CVE-2024-39896: Directus SSO user enumeration via error message disclosure

CVE-2024-39896 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2024-07-08

Directus is a headless CMS that manages content and user authentication for web applications. When configured with both single sign-on (SSO) providers and local username/password authentication, an attacker can enumerate which email addresses are registered as SSO users by observing different error messages during login attempts. This information disclosure could aid in targeted social engineering or account takeover attacks.

Technologies: directus (npm). Vendors: npm.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2024-39896 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2024-39896 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2024-39896?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 8 July 2024.
Which products and versions are affected?
directus (npm) >= 9.11, < 10.13.0, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=9.11,fixed=10.13.0.
Is there a fix for CVE-2024-39896?
Yes. directus (npm): upgrade to 10.13.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2024-39896 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in a web application.
Am I affected by CVE-2024-39896?
Check whether you run directus (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

How to fix

  • directus (npm): upgrade to 10.13.0 or later
    npm install directus@10.13.0

Technical details

The vulnerability is a user enumeration flaw (CWE-200) in Directus authentication logic. When a user attempts to log in locally with an email address that exists in Directus but is associated with an SSO provider, the system returns a specific error message stating the account belongs to another provider. For non-existent email addresses, a generic error is returned. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this by submitting login attempts via the web form or API (no credentials required) and comparing error responses to determine which email addresses are registered SSO users. The vulnerability affects versions 9.11 through 10.12.x. A patch is available in version 10.13.0. As a workaround, administrators can disable local authentication with the AUTH_DISABLE_DEFAULT="true" environment variable.

Affected products

  • Directus Directus 9.11 through 10.12.x

Identifiers

  • CVE-2024-39896
  • GHSA-jgf4-vwc3-r46v

Timeline

  • 2024-07-08: disclosed: Vulnerability disclosed in GitHub Advisory GHSA-jgf4-vwc3-r46v
  • 2024-07-08: patched: Patch released in Directus version 10.13.0

References

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