New critical vulnerabilities in Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, tracked as CVE-2024-8068 and CVE-2024-8069, as well as new flaws involving MSMQ (Microsoft Message Queuing) misconfiguration, were discovered. These vulnerabilities enable attackers to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) on vulnerable systems. Read this Cybersecurity Threat Advisory to learn how to minimize the risks associated with these vulnerabilities.
What is the threat?
CVE-2024-8068 and CVE-2024-8069 impact the Session Recording component of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. Attackers can execute arbitrary code remotely by leveraging improper input validation in session recording services upon successfully exploiting these flaws. In addition, the new flaws tied to MSMQ misconfigurations in Citrix environments allow attackers to send maliciously crafted messages to achieve RCE without authentication. This creates a direct path for adversaries to compromise enterprise networks, steal data, or establish persistence for further attacks. The combination of these vulnerabilities highlights critical weaknesses in both application components and underlying messaging protocols.
Why is it noteworthy?
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops enable secure user productivity, making any compromise a high-impact event. The ability to achieve unauthenticated RCE through MSMQ misconfigurations or the Session Recording component increases the ease of exploitation. These flaws highlight a concerning trend in exploiting complex interdependencies within enterprise IT ecosystems.
What is the exposure or risk?
Organizations using Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops are at considerable risk due to the potential for unauthenticated RCE. Exploitation of CVE-2024-8068 and CVE-2024-8069 can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or service disruption by targeting the Session Recording component. Similarly, the flaws tied to MSMQ misconfigurations allow attackers to compromise systems without credentials, further broadening the attack surface. Successful exploitation could grant attackers administrative control, enabling lateral movement across networks, exfiltration of sensitive data, or deployment of ransomware.
What are the recommendations?
Barracuda recommends the following actions to mitigate the risks associated with these vulnerabilities:
- Apply updates addressing CVE-2024-8068 and CVE-2024-8069 at your earliest convenience.
- Disable unnecessary MSMQ services and ensure proper authentication and encryption for MSMQ messages to prevent exploitation of misconfigurations.
- Implement security monitoring tools to detect and respond to unusual behaviors or unauthorized access attempts targeting Citrix components.
- Limit network access to Citrix servers and components, particularly the Session Recording service and MSMQ, using firewalls and access controls.
- Utilize tools like vulnerability scanners and configuration analyzers to identify and remediate flaws in MSMQ and Citrix deployments proactively.
- Ensure IT staff are aware of the vulnerabilities and best practices for securing Citrix environments.
References
For more in-depth information on the above recommendations, please visit the following links:
- https://cybersecuritynews.com/citrix-virtual-apps-desktops-rce/amp/
- https://thehackernews.com/2024/11/new-flaws-in-citrix-virtual-apps-enable.html
If you have any questions about this Cybersecurity Threat Advisory, please contact Barracuda XDR’s Security Operations Center.
