CVE-2024-45785: AI-Generated Zero-Day Exploit Targets BigTree CMS

Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) recently disclosed a significant development in the threat landscape: the discovery of an exploit for a Zero-Day vulnerability in the BigTree CMS open-source platform. According to BleepingComputer, researchers believe the exploit was likely generated using artificial intelligence. This discovery marks a shift in how attackers may lower the barrier to entry for developing complex exploit code against specialized software targets.

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-45785, allows for unauthenticated command injection, leading to full system compromise. While the CVSS score is high due to the potential for complete RCE, the use of AI to bridge the gap between vulnerability discovery and weaponization is a primary concern for modern security practitioners.

Technical Analysis of the BigTree CMS Exploitation

BigTree CMS is an open-source content management system designed for flexibility. The CVE identified as CVE-2024-45785 resides in how the application handles user-supplied input within its administrative modules. Specifically, the BigTree CMS version 4.4.15 RCE vulnerability stems from a failure to sanitize input passed to sensitive system-level functions.

During their investigation, GTIG researchers noticed that the exploit code used in the wild contained distinctive markers. Unlike human-written exploits which are often terse, this code featured verbose, explanatory comments and a rigid structure consistent with outputs from Large Language Models (LLMs). The attackers utilized these AI-generated scripts to automate the TTP of probing the web admin tool for weaknesses and subsequently delivering a malicious payload.

The exploit works by targeting the /admin/ directory, leveraging command injection to write a web shell to the server’s filesystem. This provides the threat actor with persistent access and a platform for further Lateral Movement within the network.

How to detect CVE-2024-45785 exploit attempts

For a SOC analyst, identifying these attempts requires monitoring web server access logs and filesystem changes. Defenders should prioritize searching for unusual POST requests to the BigTree CMS admin interface that contain shell-like commands or encoded strings. Because the exploit code is highly structured, SIEM rules can be tuned to look for specific patterns in the payload, though attackers can easily modify AI prompts to change these markers.

Utilizing an EDR solution is essential for identifying the post-exploitation phase. Look for the php-fpm or apache processes spawning unusual child processes like /bin/sh or /bin/bash. These IoC are classic indicators of a successful web shell deployment following a successful exploit of the CVE-2024-45785 flaw.

Remediation and Mitigation Strategies

The primary defense against this threat is the application of the BigTree CMS security patch 4.4.16. This update addresses the input validation flaws and prevents the execution of arbitrary commands through the affected parameters.

In addition to patching, organizations should adopt a Zero Trust architecture for administrative interfaces. Restricting access to the /admin/ directory via IP allow-listing or requiring a VPN connection significantly reduces the attack surface available to external threat actors.

The MITRE ATT&CK framework categorizes this activity under Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190). By mapping these threats to a standardized framework, organizations can better understand the progression of the attack and implement layered defenses. This specific case highlights that even niche software is now at risk of rapid exploitation as AI tools become more adept at identifying and weaponizing software vulnerabilities.