CVE-2024-52946 is a vulnerability identified in LemonLDAP::NG, an open-source Web Single Sign-On (SSO) and identity federation system widely used in enterprise and public sector environments. The flaw exists in versions prior to 2.20.1 and stems from an improper check during the session refresh process. Specifically, when an administrator configures an adaptive authentication rule that uses an increment value to raise authentication levels instead of an absolute value, an authenticated user can exploit this logic flaw to escalate their authentication level beyond what is intended. This escalation can grant the user higher privileges within the system, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive resources or administrative functions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions) and has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8, indicating high severity. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and only requires privileges of an authenticated user (PR:L) without any user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for privilege escalation in environments relying on adaptive authentication policies. LemonLDAP::NG is commonly deployed in European public administrations and enterprises, making this vulnerability particularly relevant to organizations managing sensitive identity and access management (IAM) infrastructures.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-52946 can be substantial. LemonLDAP::NG is often used in government agencies, healthcare, education, and large enterprises for centralized authentication and access management. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could escalate their authentication level, bypassing security controls and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or administrative functions. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and disruption of critical services. The high CVSS score reflects the potential for widespread impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Given the reliance on adaptive authentication to enhance security, this vulnerability undermines trust in the authentication process. Organizations with complex adaptive authentication rules are especially vulnerable. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk remains high due to the ease of exploitation by authenticated users.

To mitigate CVE-2024-52946, organizations should immediately upgrade LemonLDAP::NG to version 2.20.1 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed. In addition to patching, administrators must audit and revise adaptive authentication rules to avoid using increment-based authentication level increases; instead, use absolute values to prevent logic flaws. Implement strict access controls to limit the number of users with privileges to configure authentication policies. Monitor authentication logs for unusual session refresh activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of compromised credentials being used to exploit this vulnerability. Regularly review and test IAM configurations and conduct penetration testing focused on authentication mechanisms. Finally, maintain an incident response plan tailored to identity and access management breaches to quickly contain and remediate any exploitation.