Overview
CVE-2024-21644 represents a significant security concern for users of pyLoad, a popular open-source Download Manager written in Python. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated user to expose the Flask config, including the `SECRET_KEY` variable, by simply browsing to a specific URL. The exposure of sensitive configuration details can lead to potential system compromise or data leakage, making it an issue of high concern.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2024-21644
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.5)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Exposure of sensitive system information, potential system compromise, and data leakage.
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
pyLoad | <= 0.5.0b3.dev76 How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability exists due to pyLoad’s mishandling of certain requests, which can lead to the exposure of the Flask configuration. This occurs when an unauthenticated user sends a specific request to a certain URL. The server then responds with sensitive configuration details, including the `SECRET_KEY` variable. With this information, an attacker may compromise the system or leak sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
An example of a potential exploit might involve a simple HTTP GET request, as shown below:
GET /flask-config-expose/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Upon receiving this request, the server could potentially respond with sensitive Flask configuration details, including the `SECRET_KEY`, if the vulnerability is present and unpatched.
Recommendations
Users are recommended to update pyLoad to the latest version or at least version 0.5.0b3.dev77, which includes a patch for this vulnerability. As a temporary mitigation, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can help prevent exploitation attempts.

