CVE-2024-47056 is a security vulnerability identified in the Mautic marketing automation platform, specifically related to the improper exposure of sensitive configuration files. The vulnerability arises because the .env file, which typically contains environment variables such as database credentials, API keys, and other critical system configurations, can be accessed directly via a web browser. This exposure is due to missing or misconfigured web server rules that fail to restrict access to these sensitive files. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability by simply navigating to the URL path of the .env file on a vulnerable Mautic installation, thereby gaining access to sensitive information without needing any authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability affects Mautic versions greater than 4.4.0. By default, Mautic does not use .env files for production data, but in cases where .env files are used and not properly protected, this vulnerability can lead to information disclosure. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.1 (medium severity), with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), low confidentiality impact (C:L), no integrity impact (I:N), and low availability impact (A:L). The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information). Mitigation involves updating Mautic to the latest version and ensuring proper web server configurations: Apache users must ensure .htaccess files are respected to block access to .env files, while Nginx users must manually add configuration blocks to deny access to .env files and reload the server configuration. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild.

For European organizations using Mautic versions above 4.4.0, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive information disclosure, which can lead to further compromise of their marketing automation infrastructure. Exposure of database credentials and API keys can enable attackers to access backend databases, manipulate marketing data, or pivot to other internal systems. Although the confidentiality impact is rated low to medium, the availability impact is also low but present, as attackers could disrupt services by leveraging exposed credentials. Since exploitation requires local access (e.g., network access to the web server) but no authentication or user interaction, internal or exposed web-facing Mautic instances are at risk. The impact is particularly significant for organizations that rely heavily on Mautic for customer data management and campaign automation, as compromise could lead to data breaches, loss of customer trust, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. The vulnerability does not directly allow code execution or integrity modification but can be a stepping stone for more severe attacks if attackers gain sensitive credentials.

European organizations should immediately verify if their Mautic installations use .env files and whether these files are accessible via the web. Specific mitigation steps include: 1) Updating Mautic to the latest available version where this issue is addressed or mitigated. 2) For Apache servers, ensure that .htaccess files are enabled and properly configured to deny access to .env files, typically by adding 'RedirectMatch 404 \.env' or equivalent rules. 3) For Nginx servers, manually add a configuration block such as 'location ~ /\.env { deny all; }' to the server configuration and reload the service. 4) Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests to verify that sensitive files are not publicly accessible. 5) Limit network exposure of Mautic instances by restricting access to trusted IPs or via VPNs. 6) Monitor logs for suspicious access attempts to .env or other sensitive files. 7) Consider moving sensitive configuration data out of .env files or encrypting sensitive values where possible. 8) Implement strict file system permissions to prevent unauthorized reading of configuration files. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on web server configuration nuances and operational security practices specific to Mautic deployments.