# CVE-2024-38475: Apache Web Server - Information Disclosure

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2024-38475 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2024-38475

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 9.1
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Apache HTTP Server
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-116 (Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output)
- **Tags:** web_server

## Description

Improper escaping of output in mod_rewrite in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.59 and earlier allows an attacker to map URLs to filesystem locations that are permitted to be served by the server but are not intentionally/directly reachable by any URL, resulting in code execution or source code disclosure. 

Substitutions in server context that use a backreferences or variables as the first segment of the substitution are affected.  Some unsafe RewiteRules will be broken by this change and the rewrite flag "UnsafePrefixStat" can be used to opt back in once ensuring the substitution is appropriately constrained.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2024-38475](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38475) is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache HTTP Server’s mod_rewrite module, stemming from improper output escaping. This flaw allows an attacker to craft URLs that bypass expected access controls, potentially mapping to unintended filesystem locations. Exploitation can lead to remote code execution or inadvertent source code disclosure.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 22nd of August 2024.

Data from the CrowdSec community indicates that exploitation of CVE-2024-38475 is highly selective and intelligence-driven. Threat actors use advanced reconnaissance and carefully choose their targets, often as part of sophisticated campaigns or advanced persistent threat operations.
CrowdSec network telemetry also shows that exploitation of CVE-2024-38475 has significantly declined over the past week. Attack volumes are well below the long-term average, suggesting attackers are rapidly losing interest. The vulnerability appears to be falling out of active use across most threat landscapes.

Observed exploitation attempts are associated with crafted URL rewriting that manipulates server context, specifically targeting rewrite rules likely to expose restricted resources.

## Timeline

- 2024-07-01: CVE Published. CVE-2024-38475 is published to NVD.
- 2024-08-22: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2024-38475 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2024-11-24: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2024-38475 for the first time.
- 2025-05-01: CISA KEV. CVE-2024-38475 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2025-05-22: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).

## References

- https://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240712-0001/
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2024/CVE-2024-38475.yaml
- https://github.com/apache/httpd/commit/9a6157d1e2f7ab15963020381054b48782bc18cf
- https://www.blackhat.com/us-24/briefings/schedule/index.html#confusion-attacks-exploiting-hidden-semantic-ambiguity-in-apache-http-server-pre-recorded-40227

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2024-38475) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2024-38475. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.