CVE-2024-3186
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedCWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in the evalExpr() function of GoAhead Web Server (version <= 6.0.0) when compiled with the ME_GOAHEAD_JAVASCRIPT flag. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker with the privileges to modify JavaScript template (JST) files to trigger a crash and cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by providing malicious templates.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceA NULL pointer dereference in the evalExpr() function of GoAhead Web Server versions 6.0.0 and earlier, when compiled with the ME_GOAHEAD_JAVASCRIPT flag, allows authenticated remote attackers with the ability to modify JavaScript template (JST) files to inject malicious templates that trigger a crash and cause denial of service.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify GoAhead Web Server installation and versionCheck for GoAhead process or binary: `ps aux | grep goahead` or check common installation paths like /usr/sbin/goahead, /opt/goahead/bin. Query the server's version endpoint or check binary with `goahead -v` if available. Also check packaging systems: `dpkg -l | grep goahead`, `rpm -qa | grep goahead`, or review any software inventory.Affected if The installed version is 6.0.0 or any earlier version (e.g., 5.x, 4.x).
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Determine if the ME_GOAHEAD_JAVASCRIPT flag was enabled at compile timeSince this is a compile-time flag, check the GoAhead binary for JavaScript-related functionality: search for strings like 'javascript', 'jst', or 'evalExpr' using `strings <binary_path> | grep -i -E 'javascript|jst|eval'`. Also check for any build configuration files or compile scripts if accessible in the environment.Affected if The binary contains JavaScript template processing strings, indicating ME_GOAHEAD_JAVASCRIPT was enabled during compilation.
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Locate JavaScript template (JST) files and assess write accessFind JST files in the web root or application directories: `find /var/www -name '*.jst' 2>/dev/null` or similar paths like /app, /webui. Check file permissions with `ls -la <jst_file>` to see if untrusted users or the web server process can write to these files.Affected if JST files exist and are writable by the web server process or untrusted users, allowing authenticated attackers to modify them.
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Verify if authentication is required for JST file modificationReview access control configurations (e.g., in goahead.conf or similar config files) and web server logs for attempts to modify JST files. Check if there are role-based controls preventing unprivileged users from uploading or editing template files.Affected if No strong authentication or authorization controls exist for modifying JST files, or the attacker has valid credentials with write access to JST files.
A defender is affected if their GoAhead Web Server version is 6.0.0 or earlier, was compiled with JavaScript template support enabled, and permits authenticated users (or attackers who obtain credentials) to modify JST files.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scopedRestrict or disable the ability for untrusted users to modify JST files; if JavaScript template processing is not required, rebuild without the ME_GOAHEAD_JAVASCRIPT flag; monitor vendor for patched releases.
GoAhead Web Server 6.1.0 or later
- Identify the current version of GoAhead Web Server in use
- Check if the application is compiled with the ME_GOAHEAD_JAVASCRIPT flag (if vulnerable configuration)
- Upgrade GoAhead Web Server to version 6.1.0 or later where this vulnerability is fixed
- Verify the upgrade was successful and the version is correct
- Test that the JavaScript template functionality still works as expected after upgrade
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation3.0 h
- Implementation2.0 h
- Testing3.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2024-3186 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2024-3186 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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