CVE-2024-23568: HCL Aftermarket EPC Information Disclosure

CVE-2024-23568 Overview

CVE-2024-23568 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting HCL Aftermarket EPC. The web server exposes the underlying server software version in HTTP responses. Attackers can use this information to fingerprint the environment and identify vulnerabilities associated with the disclosed version.

The issue is classified under [CWE-200] (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity of application data, it aids reconnaissance for follow-on attacks against outdated components.

Critical Impact
Remote unauthenticated attackers can identify the exact server software version running behind HCL Aftermarket EPC, enabling targeted exploitation of known vulnerabilities in that version.

Affected Products

HCL Aftermarket EPC

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-17 - CVE-2024-23568 published to NVD
2026-07-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-23568

Vulnerability Analysis

HCL Aftermarket EPC returns HTTP responses that include headers or banners identifying the server software version. This behavior is a classic information exposure weakness. Attackers query the web server, parse the response headers, and correlate the exposed version string against public vulnerability databases.

The vulnerability does not grant code execution or data access on its own. However, it lowers the effort required for an attacker to plan subsequent attacks. When outdated software is in use, published exploits become directly applicable.

The issue is reachable over the network without authentication or user interaction. The scope is limited to information disclosure that assists reconnaissance and enables a small integrity or availability impact through follow-on exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is a default web server configuration that emits software identity information in HTTP response headers such as Server or X-Powered-By. The application does not suppress or override these headers. Any client that issues a standard HTTP request receives the version disclosure.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends an HTTP request such as HEAD / or GET / to the HCL Aftermarket EPC web endpoint. The server responds with a Server header containing product and version data. The attacker parses the response and searches vulnerability feeds for matching CVEs. If the disclosed version has known flaws, the attacker weaponizes the corresponding exploit.

Automated scanners such as banner-grabbing tools accelerate this reconnaissance at scale across internet-exposed HCL Aftermarket EPC deployments.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-23568

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated HTTP HEAD or GET requests from external IPs targeting root or diagnostic paths of HCL Aftermarket EPC endpoints.
Anomalous user agents associated with fingerprinting tools such as Nmap, Nikto, whatweb, or httpx.
Response traffic containing Server: headers that expose product name and version to unauthenticated clients.

Detection Strategies

Inspect outbound HTTP responses from HCL Aftermarket EPC servers and alert when the Server header contains version identifiers.
Correlate reconnaissance patterns by grouping short-lived HTTP sessions from a single source that touch multiple discovery paths.
Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag banner-grabbing signatures against HCL Aftermarket EPC hostnames.

Monitoring Recommendations

Log all HTTP request and response headers at the reverse proxy or load balancer layer.
Baseline normal client behavior and alert on scanning bursts targeting the Aftermarket EPC application tier.
Track external attack surface changes with periodic scans that verify response headers do not leak version data.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-23568

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the guidance from the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article to remove version disclosure from HTTP responses.
Audit HCL Aftermarket EPC web configuration for Server, X-Powered-By, and error page banners that reveal version details.
Restrict internet exposure of the Aftermarket EPC administrative and diagnostic endpoints.

Patch Information

HCL published remediation guidance in the vendor knowledge base article referenced above. Administrators should follow the vendor instructions to suppress software version identifiers from web server responses. Confirm remediation by issuing an authenticated request and verifying that response headers no longer expose version data.

Workarounds

Configure the reverse proxy or load balancer in front of HCL Aftermarket EPC to strip the Server and X-Powered-By headers.
Replace default error pages that include version information with generic error responses.
Enforce network segmentation so that only trusted clients can reach the Aftermarket EPC web tier.

bash

# Example: strip version headers at an nginx reverse proxy
server {
    server_tokens off;
    proxy_hide_header Server;
    proxy_hide_header X-Powered-By;
    add_header Server "" always;
}