Horizon Alert
Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters
This vulnerability in Arelle allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server. This is concerning because the affected REST endpoint does not check for authentication, meaning an attacker could potentially trigger this by sending a crafted request from anywhere.
- Can lead to full server compromise.
- Impacts the Arelle application.
- No existing access is needed to exploit.
Attack Path
How an attacker could exploit the issue
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the Arelle REST API. This allows them to execute arbitrary code on the server running Arelle, provided they can reach the API over the network.
- Unauthenticated network access
- Target the `/rest/configure` endpoint
- Supply malicious plugin URL
Live Threat
Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context
This vulnerability in Arelle, an application for financial data, allows unauthenticated remote code execution. Attackers can exploit this by providing a malicious URL to a Python file, which the Arelle server will download and run. While the exploit is straightforward, Arelle is often used in more controlled, internal environments, potentially limiting its widespread appeal to attackers targeting the public internet.
- No known exploit in the wild.
- No KEV listing.
- Patch released in last 6 months.
Priority actions
Operational Fix
Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps
Prioritize blocking network traffic to the `/rest/configure` endpoint and thoroughly investigate any Arelle instances that are accessible externally. Since this vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote code execution via a publicly accessible REST endpoint, actively exploited systems should be immediately isolated to prevent further compromise.
- Block network access to the Arelle `/rest/configure` endpoint.
- Isolate Arelle instances if unpatched.
- Update Arelle to version 2.39.10 or later.
