Denial of Service Vulnerability in Appsmith by Appsmith

CVE-2024-55963

What is CVE-2024-55963?

CVE-2024-55963 is a denial of service vulnerability identified in the Appsmith platform, an open-source tool designed for building internal applications through a visually driven interface. This vulnerability allows users without administrative permissions to trigger a server restart by invoking the restart API multiple times. While the impact is restricted to the Appsmith server running in its own container, the ability to continuously restart the server can disrupt services and hinder functionality, ultimately affecting organizational operations that rely on the Appsmith platform.

Technical Details

The vulnerability arises from incorrect access control checks implemented within the Appsmith application prior to version 1.51. Users who do not possess the necessary super user permissions can exploit this weakness by accessing the restart API, causing the Appsmith server to restart unexpectedly. This flaw indicates that the application does not properly validate the authorization of incoming requests, leading to potential disruptions in service availability.

Potential impact of CVE-2024-55963

1. Service Disruption: Repeated exploitation can result in persistent server restarts, leading to significant downtime for applications built on the Appsmith platform, directly affecting user access and operational efficiency.

2. Resource Exhaustion: Continuous activation of the restart function can cause excessive load on server resources, potentially limiting the platform's ability to handle legitimate requests and degrading overall performance.

3. Increased Operational Risks: Organizations relying on Appsmith for critical internal applications may experience operational challenges and decreased productivity, as repeated restarts can hinder the development, deployment, and use of essential business tools.

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