Ivanti Connect Secure and Policy Secure SAML Component SSRF Vulnerability (CVE-2024-21893) Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTIvanti Connect Secure (9.x, 22.x), Ivanti Policy Secure (9.x, 22.x), and Ivanti Neurons for ZTA
Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit the SAML component to bypass authentication and access restricted internal resources
Immediately apply the official vendor security patches or import the temporary mitigation XML profile
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Administrators should immediately upgrade to the patched firmware versions released by Ivanti. Verify the current system status and apply updates via the admin console or CLI.
# Check current system version and active patches
show version
show system info
# Note: Firmware upgrades should be performed via the Web Admin GUI under 'System -> Maintenance -> Upgrade'.2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, import the official mitigation XML file (mitigation.release.20240126.5.xml) provided by Ivanti. Alternatively, restrict access to vulnerable endpoints at the perimeter firewall or reverse proxy level.
# Example Nginx configuration block to block access to the vulnerable endpoint
server {
location ~* ^/api/v1/totp/user-backup/key {
deny all;
return 403;
}
}3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Inspect system and web access logs for indicators of compromise (IoCs) related to SAML SSRF exploitation attempts.
# Search web access logs for requests targeting the vulnerable TOTP/SAML endpoint
grep -i '/api/v1/totp/user-backup/key' /var/log/nginx/access.log
# Monitor unexpected local loopback connections that may indicate SSRF-to-RCE chaining
ss -antp | grep -E '127.0.0.1|::1'Stop Exposing VPN Ports to the Internet — Switch to Zero-Trust Access
Eliminate public-facing VPN concentrators and firewall management ports with identity-first Zero-Trust Network Access.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2024-21893) is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability residing in the SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) processing component of Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure, and Ivanti Neurons for ZTA. The root cause lies in insufficient validation of XML signatures and external entity references within the SAML parser, allowing unauthenticated entities to coerce the system into making outbound requests.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An unauthenticated attacker crafts a malicious XML payload containing a forged SAML request and transmits it to vulnerable endpoints such as /api/v1/totp/user-backup/key. By manipulating the KeyInfo or RetrievalMethod elements within the XML structure, the attacker forces the gateway's internal SAML parser to issue HTTP requests to arbitrary internal services (e.g., http://127.0.0.1:8000/). This bypasses perimeter access controls and allows the attacker to interact with sensitive local APIs, often chaining this with other local vulnerabilities to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE).
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
As this vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, it is actively being exploited by threat actors globally. Because these appliances serve as the primary gateway for secure remote access, compromise of the VPN gateway can lead to complete network infiltration, lateral movement, credential theft, and deployment of ransomware across the enterprise infrastructure.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
A server-side request forgery vulnerability in the SAML component of Ivanti Connect Secure (9.x, 22.x) and Ivanti Policy Secure (9.x, 22.x) and Ivanti Neurons for ZTA allows an attacker to access certain restricted resources without authentication.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2024-21893)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2024-21893 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2024-21893 is rated CVSS 8.2 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 100.0%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2024-21893?
Primary impacted vendors include ivanti across connect secure, policy secure, neurons for zta. Scope summary: All versions of Ivanti Connect Secure (9.x, 22.x), Ivanti Policy Secure (9.x, 22.x), and Ivanti Neurons for ZTA
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2024-21893 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately apply the official vendor security patches or import the temporary mitigation XML profile Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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