CVE-2024-8806 is an OS command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-78 affecting Cohesive Networks VNS3, specifically version 6.2.3-20240417. The vulnerability exists in the web service component that listens on TCP port 8000 by default. The root cause is the failure to properly sanitize or neutralize special characters in user-supplied input before incorporating it into system-level commands. This lack of input validation enables an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject arbitrary OS commands, which are executed with root privileges on the underlying system. The vulnerability is severe due to the absence of authentication requirements and the ability to execute code as root, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The CVSS v3.0 base score is 9.8, reflecting its critical impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability was assigned by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) and publicly disclosed on November 22, 2024. The affected product, VNS3, is a software-defined networking and VPN solution used to manage cloud network overlays, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in cloud and hybrid environments.

The impact of CVE-2024-8806 is severe for organizations deploying Cohesive Networks VNS3. Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root without authentication, leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized data access, data manipulation, service disruption, and the potential for attackers to establish persistent backdoors. Given VNS3’s role in managing secure network overlays and VPNs, exploitation could also facilitate lateral movement within cloud environments, exposing sensitive internal resources and data. The vulnerability threatens confidentiality, integrity, and availability simultaneously, making it a critical risk for enterprises relying on VNS3 for secure cloud networking. Additionally, the ease of exploitation and lack of required user interaction increase the likelihood of rapid exploitation once public exploits emerge.

Until an official patch is released by Cohesive Networks, organizations should implement the following mitigations: 1) Restrict network access to the VNS3 web service on TCP port 8000 using firewall rules or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted IP addresses only. 2) Monitor and log all access attempts to the web service for suspicious activity indicative of injection attempts. 3) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block command injection patterns targeting the vulnerable endpoint. 4) Disable or restrict unnecessary services and interfaces on VNS3 appliances to reduce attack surface. 5) Plan for immediate patch deployment once available from the vendor. 6) Conduct thorough security assessments and penetration tests on VNS3 deployments to identify any signs of compromise. 7) Educate network and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response and incident handling.