CVE-2024-38524: Gs web app GWC Home Page Communicate Version Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jm79-7xhw-6f6f
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-38524 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) gwc home page communicate version vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Gs web app libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves gwc home page communicate version and revision information. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.26.2, 2.25.6.

CVE-2024-38524 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-38524
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jm79-7xhw-6f6f
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Product Gs web app
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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:N/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 None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2024-38524

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

org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app fixed: 2.26.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.geoserver.web</groupId>
    <artifactId>gs-web-app</artifactId>
    <version>2.26.2</version>
</dependency>
org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app fixed: 2.25.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.geoserver.web</groupId>
    <artifactId>gs-web-app</artifactId>
    <version>2.25.6</version>
</dependency>
org.geoserver:gs-gwc fixed: 2.26.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.geoserver</groupId>
    <artifactId>gs-gwc</artifactId>
    <version>2.26.2</version>
</dependency>
org.geoserver:gs-gwc fixed: 2.25.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.geoserver</groupId>
    <artifactId>gs-gwc</artifactId>
    <version>2.25.6</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver.web

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2024-38524, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver.web

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Gs web app in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.26.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver.web command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. In Gs web app, 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

### Summary The GeoWebCache home page includes version and revision information about the software in use. This information is sensitive from a security point of view because it allows software used by the server to be easily identified. ### Details org.geowebcache.GeoWebCacheDispatcher.handleFrontPage(HttpServletRequest, HttpServletResponse) has no check to hide potentially sensitive information from users except for a hidden system property to hide the storage locations that defaults to showing the locations. ### PoC Just open http://localhost:8080/geoserver/gwc/ ### Impact In addition to exposing the version and revision information, the home page will expose the config file and storage locations which may expose the system's temp directory location and whether or not GeoServer is running in a Windows operating system. The approximate server start time and some basic GWC usage information is also exposed. ### References https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11677 https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/8189 https://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/issues/1344 https://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/pull/1345

CVE-2024-38524 Affected Gs web app Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.26.22.25.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app
maven/org.geoserver.web/gs-web-app
Maven
≥ 2.26.0
< 2.26.2
2.26.2
org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app
maven/org.geoserver.web/gs-web-app
Maven
< 2.25.6
2.25.6
org.geoserver:gs-gwc
maven/org.geoserver/gs-gwc
Maven
≥ 2.26.0
< 2.26.2
2.26.2
org.geoserver:gs-gwc
maven/org.geoserver/gs-gwc
Maven
< 2.25.6
2.25.6

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/security/advisories/GHSA-jm79-7xhw-6f6f
NVD — CVE-2024-38524 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38524
Gs web app Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/issues/1344
Gs web app Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/pull/1345
Gs web app Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/8189
Gs web app Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver
osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/geos-11677 WEB
https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11677

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-38524?
CVE-2024-38524 is a security vulnerability in Gs web app involving GWC Home Page communicate version and revision information under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Gs web app versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.26.2, 2.25.6 across affected packages: org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app, org.geoserver:gs-gwc.
What version fixes CVE-2024-38524?
Upgrading to 2.26.2, 2.25.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is gs-web-app affected?
Yes, org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app is affected in releases prior to 2.26.2, 2.25.6. Upgrade your dependency to 2.26.2, 2.25.6 or later.
Is gs-gwc affected?
Yes, org.geoserver:gs-gwc is affected in releases prior to 2.26.2, 2.25.6. Upgrade your dependency to 2.26.2, 2.25.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-38524?
CVE-2024-38524 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-38524?
CVE-2024-38524 is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor (The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2024-38524?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver.web'. 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-jm79-7xhw-6f6f",
  "modified" : "2025-06-10T15:35:27Z",
  "published" : "2025-06-10T14:14:08Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-38524" ],
  "summary" : "GWC Home Page communicate version and revision information",
  "details" : "### Summary\nThe GeoWebCache home page includes version and revision information about the software in use. This information is sensitive from a security point of view because it allows software used by the server to be easily identified.\n\n### Details\norg.geowebcache.GeoWebCacheDispatcher.handleFrontPage(HttpServletRequest, HttpServletResponse) has no check to hide potentially sensitive information from users except for a hidden system property to hide the storage locations that defaults to showing the locations.\n\n### PoC\nJust open http://localhost:8080/geoserver/gwc/\n\n### Impact\nIn addition to exposing the version and revision information, the home page will expose the config file and storage locations which may expose the system's temp directory location and whether or not GeoServer is running in a Windows operating system. The approximate server start time and some basic GWC usage information is also exposed.\n\n### References\nhttps://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11677\nhttps://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/8189\nhttps://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/issues/1344\nhttps://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/pull/1345",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.26.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.26.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.geoserver.web:gs-web-app"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.25.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.geoserver:gs-gwc"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.26.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.26.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.geoserver:gs-gwc"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.25.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/security/advisories/GHSA-jm79-7xhw-6f6f"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38524"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/issues/1344"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/GeoWebCache/geowebcache/pull/1345"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/8189"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11677"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-06-10T14:14:08Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-06-10T15:15:22Z"
  }
}