CVE-2023-4501

high-risk
Published 2023-09-12

User authentication with username and password credentials is ineffective in OpenText (Micro Focus) Visual COBOL, COBOL Server, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Server (including product variants such as Enterprise Test Server), versions 7.0 patch updates 19 and 20, 8.0 patch updates 8 and 9, and 9.0 patch update 1, when LDAP-based authentication is used with certain configurations. When the vulnerability is active, authentication succeeds with any valid username, regardless of whether the password is correct; it may also succeed with an invalid username (and any password). This allows an attacker with access to the product to impersonate any user. Mitigations: The issue is corrected in the upcoming patch update for each affected product. Product overlays and workaround instructions are available through OpenText Support. The vulnerable configurations are believed to be uncommon. Administrators can test for the vulnerability in their installations by attempting to sign on to a Visual COBOL or Enterprise Server component such as ESCWA using a valid username and incorrect password.

Do I need to act?

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0.17% chance of exploitation
EPSS score — low exploit probability
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Not on CISA KEV list
No confirmed active exploitation reported to CISA
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Patch status unknown
Check vendor advisories for fix availability and mitigation guidance
9
CVSS 9.8/10 Critical
NETWORK / LOW complexity

Affected Products (20)

Cobol Server
Cobol Server
Cobol Server
Cobol Server
Cobol Server
Enterprise Developer
Enterprise Developer
Enterprise Developer
Enterprise Developer
Enterprise Developer
Enterprise Server
Enterprise Server
Enterprise Server
Enterprise Server
Enterprise Server
Enterprise Test Server
Enterprise Test Server
Enterprise Test Server
Enterprise Test Server
Enterprise Test Server

Affected Vendors

54
/ 100
high-risk
Severity 32/34 · Critical
Exploitability 1/34 · Minimal
Exposure 21/34 · High