CVE-2024-43409: Ghost Ghost's Improper Authentication Allows Access Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-78x2-cwp9-5j42
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-284 CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-43409 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) ghost's improper authentication allows access vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Ghost libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves ghost's improper authentication allows access to member information and actions. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.89.5, 2.39.0.

CVE-2024-43409 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-43409
GHSA Identifier GHSA-78x2-cwp9-5j42
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Ghost
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2024-43409

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ghost dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

ghost fixed: 5.89.5 
npm install ghost@5.89.5
@tryghost/portal fixed: 2.39.0 
npm install @tryghost/portal@2.39.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls ghost

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2024-43409, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls ghost

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ghost in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 5.89.5), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls ghost command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control, where the product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. In Ghost, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact Improper authentication on some endpoints used for member actions would allow an attacker to perform member-only actions, and read member information. ### Vulnerable versions This security vulnerability is present in Ghost v4.46.0-v5.89.5. Ghost(Pro) customers are automatically updated to fixed versions ahead of disclosure. If you're a self-hoster, please follow our [update instructions](https://ghost.org/docs/update). ### Patches v5.89.5 contains a fix for this issue. ### Workarounds Disable site membership in Ghost settings. ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Email us at [security@ghost.org](mailto:security@ghost.org)

CVE-2024-43409 Affected Ghost Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.89.52.39.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ghost
npm/ghost
npm
≥ 4.46.0
< 5.89.5
5.89.5
@tryghost/portal
npm/@tryghost/portal
npm
≥ 1.22.2
< 2.39.0
2.39.0

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/security/advisories/GHSA-78x2-cwp9-5j42
NVD — CVE-2024-43409 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-43409
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/commit/dac25612520b571f58679764ecc27109e641d1db
Ghost Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-43409?
CVE-2024-43409 is a security vulnerability in Ghost involving Ghost's improper authentication allows access to member information and actions under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
Which Ghost versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.89.5, 2.39.0 across affected packages: ghost, @tryghost/portal.
What version fixes CVE-2024-43409?
Upgrading to 5.89.5, 2.39.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ghost affected?
Yes, ghost is affected in releases prior to 5.89.5. Upgrade your dependency to 5.89.5 or later.
Is @tryghost/portal affected?
Yes, @tryghost/portal is affected in releases prior to 2.39.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.39.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-43409?
CVE-2024-43409 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-43409?
CVE-2024-43409 is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control (The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2024-43409?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls ghost'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-78x2-cwp9-5j42",
  "modified" : "2024-10-29T20:00:41Z",
  "published" : "2024-08-20T20:04:49Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-43409" ],
  "summary" : "Ghost's improper authentication allows access to member information and actions",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nImproper authentication on some endpoints used for member actions would allow an attacker to perform member-only actions, and read member information.\n\n### Vulnerable versions\n\nThis security vulnerability is present in Ghost v4.46.0-v5.89.5.\n\nGhost(Pro) customers are automatically updated to fixed versions ahead of disclosure.\n\nIf you're a self-hoster, please follow our [update instructions](https://ghost.org/docs/update).\n\n### Patches\n\nv5.89.5 contains a fix for this issue.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nDisable site membership in Ghost settings.\n\n### For more information\n\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n\n* Email us at [security@ghost.org](mailto:security@ghost.org)\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "ghost"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.46.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.89.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "@tryghost/portal"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.22.2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.39.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/security/advisories/GHSA-78x2-cwp9-5j42"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-43409"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/commit/dac25612520b571f58679764ecc27109e641d1db"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-284", "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-08-20T20:04:49Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-08-20T15:15:24Z"
  }
}