NAKIVO Backup & Replication Absolute Path Traversal and Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability (CVE-2024-48248) Analysis & Mitigation Guide
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTNAKIVO Backup & Replication versions prior to 11.0.0.88174
Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit absolute path traversal to read arbitrary system files, potentially leading to enterprise-wide Remote Code Execution (RCE) due to cleartext credentials stored in PhysicalDiscovery.
Immediately upgrade NAKIVO Backup & Replication to version 11.0.0.88174 or later and restrict external access.
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
The primary remediation is upgrading NAKIVO Backup & Replication to version 11.0.0.88174 or later.
For Linux-based deployments, download and execute the official installer in update mode:
# Download the latest installer and grant execution permissions
wget https://download.nakivo.com/co/NAKIVO_Backup_Replication_v11.0.0_Installer.sh
chmod +x NAKIVO_Backup_Replication_v11.0.0_Installer.sh
# Run the installer in update mode
sudo ./NAKIVO_Backup_Replication_v11.0.0_Installer.sh --mode update2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If patching cannot be applied immediately, restrict access to the /c/router endpoint using a reverse proxy or firewall.
Example Nginx configuration to restrict access:
# Add access control rules in the Nginx server block
server {
listen 443 ssl;
server_name nakivo.internal.local;
# Restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint
location /c/router {
# Allow only trusted internal subnets
allow 10.0.0.0/8;
allow 192.168.0.0/16;
deny all;
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:4443;
}
}3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Use the following command to scan web server and application logs for potential exploitation attempts containing getImageByPath and path traversal patterns:
# Scan Nginx access logs and NAKIVO application logs for exploitation attempts
grep -Ei 'getImageByPath' /var/log/nginx/access.log /opt/nakivo/bh/logs/*.log 2>/dev/null | grep -E '(/etc/|C:\\Windows)'Block Exploits Instantly with Managed Virtual Patching Rules
Can't patch production immediately? Deploy managed WAF rules at the edge to intercept RCE, SQLi, and deserialization payloads before they hit your origin server.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2024-48248) exists in the /c/router endpoint of NAKIVO Backup & Replication. Due to insufficient input validation and lack of proper path sanitization, the application allows absolute path traversal (CWE-36) when processing requests via the getImageByPath function. This allows unauthenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary files from the underlying operating system.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP POST request targeting the /c/router endpoint to invoke the getImageByPath method. By supplying an absolute file path (e.g., /etc/passwd on Linux or sensitive configuration files on Windows) as a parameter, the server retrieves and returns the file contents without authentication. Because NAKIVO's PhysicalDiscovery feature stores cleartext credentials for infrastructure scanning, exposing these credentials allows attackers to pivot and achieve full Remote Code Execution (RCE) across the entire enterprise network.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 8.6 and its inclusion in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, this vulnerability is actively being exploited in the wild. Since backup servers hold highly sensitive data and administrative access to infrastructure, exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to massive data exfiltration, ransomware deployment, and complete domain compromise.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
NAKIVO Backup & Replication before 11.0.0.88174 allows absolute path traversal for reading files via getImageByPath to /c/router (this may lead to remote code execution across the enterprise because PhysicalDiscovery has cleartext credentials).
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2024-48248)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2024-48248 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2024-48248 is rated CVSS 8.6 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 94.4%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2024-48248?
Primary impacted vendors include nakivo across backup & replication. Scope summary: All NAKIVO Backup & Replication versions prior to 11.0.0.88174 (across Windows, Linux, and Virtual Appliance deployments)
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2024-48248 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately upgrade NAKIVO Backup & Replication to version 11.0.0.88174 or later and restrict external access. Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2024-48248
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