CVE-2024-38462

Code execution via unqualified mail executable

Published Jun 16, 2024 · Updated Aug 21, 2024

Untrusted search path in iRODS before 4.3.2 allows attackers to execute code as the server account when msiSendMail invokes mail. The msiSendMail microservice builds a shell command containing the bare mail program name and passes it to system(), which resolves the executable through the server process's PATH. Exploitation requires a malicious mail executable earlier in that PATH and an invocation of the microservice; the resulting process inherits the iRODS server account's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Untrusted search path in iRODS before 4.3.2 allows attackers to execute code as the server account when msiSendMail invokes mail. The msiSendMail microservice builds a shell command containing the bare mail program name and passes it to system(), which resolves the executable through the server process's PATH. Exploitation requires a malicious mail executable earlier in that PATH and an invocation of the microservice; the resulting process inherits the iRODS server account's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38462
Published
Jun 16, 2024
Updated
Aug 21, 2024
Vendor
iRODS Consortium
Product
iRODS
Classifications
CWE-426, T1574.007
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 21, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <4.3.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

iRODS Consortium · iRODSversion=0 <4.3.2

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1574.007Path Interception by PATH Environment Variable

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo