Apache HTTP Server Scoreboard Privilege Escalation
Actively exploited in the wild. Patch or mitigate immediately — don't wait for a maintenance window.
An attacker with a basic user account, with local access to the host, with no user interaction, can fully compromise the system — steal data, tamper with it and take it offline.
In Apache HTTP Server 2.4 releases 2.4.17 to 2.4.38, with MPM event, worker or prefork, code executing in less-privileged child processes or threads (including scripts executed by an in-process scripting interpreter) could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the parent process (usually root) by manipulating the scoreboard. Non-Unix systems are not affected.
Techniques marked “observed” are corroborated by threat intelligence; the rest are inferred from the weakness type (CWE) and attack vector.
Corroborated threat activity referencing this CVE — with source and confidence, not inference.
These techniques were analysed against this CVE's real-world exploitation — the matching entries in the ATT&CK chain above are marked “observed”.
Generated by Wavense from the CVE record — an immediate mitigation and the permanent fix.
As an interim measure, ensure strict network segmentation and access controls for Apache servers, limiting exposure to untrusted sources. Implement robust intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for unusual process activity or attempts to manipulate shared memory. Consider using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests before they reach the server, reducing the chance of initial child process compromise.
The permanent resolution is to upgrade your Apache HTTP Server installation to version 2.4.39 or later. This directly addresses the scoreboard manipulation vulnerability. Verify that the upgrade successfully completes and all affected instances running versions 2.4.17 through 2.4.38 are updated to eliminate the risk.
An attacker, having gained initial access to a less-privileged Apache child process, could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. This allows for complete compromise of the server, including data exfiltration, system modification, or persistent backdoor installation. The business impact includes severe data breaches, service disruption, and significant reputational damage.
Other CVEs affecting http server
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