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Critical Citrix Recording Manager Vulnerabilities CVE-2024-8068 & CVE-2024-8069: Urgent Mitigation Required

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Executive Summary

On November 12, 2024, a critical zero-day vulnerability was identified in Citrix Recording Manager, tracked as CVE-2024-8068 and CVE-2024-8069. These vulnerabilities pose significant risks, allowing for unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) and privilege escalation. Organizations utilizing Citrix products must act swiftly to mitigate potential exploitation, as the vulnerabilities are characterized by their ease of exploitation, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.

Technical Information

The vulnerabilities in Citrix Recording Manager arise from two primary issues: the insecure serialization method using BinaryFormatter and an exposed Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) service accessible via HTTP. The CVE-2024-8068 vulnerability allows an authenticated user within the same Windows Active Directory domain to escalate privileges to the NetworkService Account. Conversely, CVE-2024-8069 is a limited RCE that necessitates admin-level access for exploitation.

The implications of these vulnerabilities are severe, as they can lead to unauthorized access and control over affected systems. Attackers can execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising sensitive data and disrupting business operations. The vulnerabilities are particularly concerning due to their "point-and-click" nature, which lowers the barrier for exploitation, allowing even those with minimal technical expertise to carry out attacks.

Exploitation in the Wild

Research conducted by watchTowr indicates that the exploitation of these vulnerabilities can be executed with minimal effort, making them a significant risk for organizations using Citrix products. The ease of exploitation is underscored by the fact that attackers can leverage the vulnerabilities without requiring advanced skills.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) associated with the exploitation of these vulnerabilities may include unusual network traffic patterns directed at MSMQ services, unauthorized access attempts to Citrix environments, and unexpected changes in user privileges. Organizations should remain vigilant and monitor their systems for these signs of potential exploitation.

APT Groups using this vulnerability

Currently, there is no specific attribution to any Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups regarding the exploitation of the Citrix Recording Manager vulnerabilities. However, given the nature of the vulnerabilities and the attractiveness of Citrix products to cybercriminals, it is prudent for organizations to monitor for potential exploitation in the wild.

Affected Product Versions

The vulnerabilities affect the following versions of Citrix Session Recording:

Citrix Session Recording version 2203 and earlier and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops version 2203 and earlier. For a complete list of affected versions, please refer to the official Citrix security bulletin: https://support.citrix.com/s/article/CTX583930-citrix-session-recording-security-bulletin-for-cve20236184?language=en_US.

Workaround and Mitigation

To mitigate the risks associated with these vulnerabilities, Citrix has issued patches for both vulnerabilities. It is strongly recommended that affected customers apply these updates as soon as their upgrade schedule permits. The patches address the insecure use of BinaryFormatter and the exposed MSMQ service.

Organizations should also consider the following specific actions:

Immediate Patch Application: Ensure that all instances of Citrix Session Recording and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops are updated to the latest versions that include the security patches.

Review Configuration Settings: Audit the configuration of MSMQ services to ensure they are not exposed to the internet and that permissions are correctly set to minimize unauthorized access.

Monitor for Unusual Activity: Implement monitoring solutions to detect any unauthorized access attempts or unusual behavior within the Citrix environment.

References

Dark Reading: Citrix Issues Patches for Zero-Day Recording Manager Bugs - https://www.darkreading.com/cloud-security/citrix-patches-zero-day-recording-manager-bugs

Citrix Session Recording Security Bulletin - https://support.citrix.com/s/article/CTX583930-citrix-session-recording-security-bulletin-for-cve20236184?language=en_US

CISA Alerts on Citrix Vulnerabilities - https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2024/07/09/citrix-releases-security-updates-multiple-products

Rescana is here for you

At Rescana, we are committed to helping our customers navigate the complexities of cybersecurity through our Continuous Threat and Exposure Management (CTEM) platform. We provide comprehensive support to ensure that organizations can effectively manage their security posture and respond to emerging threats. Should you have any questions regarding this report or any other issues, please feel free to reach out to us at ops@rescana.com.

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