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CVE-2023-4501

Microfocus Cobol Server authentication bypass

9.8 CRITICALEPSS 0.76%
  1. Published12 Sept 2023

Description

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.

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorNetwork
Attack complexityLow
Privileges requiredNone
User interactionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

Microfocus Cobol Server7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0
Microfocus Enterprise Developer7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0
Microfocus Enterprise Server7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0
Microfocus Enterprise Test Server7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0
Microfocus Visual Cobol7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0

Remediation

No fixed version is recorded in the NVD data. Check the vendor advisory for the latest guidance.

References

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Frequently asked

Is CVE-2023-4501 being actively exploited?

CVE-2023-4501 is not in the CISA KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit probability is 0.76%.

How severe is CVE-2023-4501?

CVE-2023-4501 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated critical. EPSS estimates a 0.76% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2023-4501?

Affected products include Microfocus Cobol Server, Microfocus Enterprise Developer, Microfocus Enterprise Server, Microfocus Enterprise Test Server, Microfocus Visual Cobol.

How do I fix CVE-2023-4501?

Apply the vendor's patch or advisory guidance, then verify no affected versions remain across your devices.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-4501 against the real software inventory on every managed device, as each hourly inventory arrives. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.