CVE-2024-25065: Apache OFBiz Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-25065 Overview

CVE-2024-25065 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Apache OFBiz that enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms. Apache OFBiz is an open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) system widely used for e-commerce, supply chain management, and customer relationship management. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit path traversal sequences to circumvent authentication controls, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive business data and administrative functions.

Critical Impact

This authentication bypass vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to access protected resources in Apache OFBiz deployments, potentially compromising sensitive enterprise data and administrative controls.

Affected Products

• Apache OFBiz versions prior to 18.12.12

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-02-29 - CVE-2024-25065 published to NVD
• 2025-05-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-25065

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper input validation in Apache OFBiz's request handling mechanism. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input containing path traversal sequences, which allows attackers to manipulate URL paths to access resources that should be protected by authentication. By crafting malicious requests with directory traversal patterns, an attacker can bypass the authentication layer entirely and interact with the application as if they were an authenticated user.

The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no prior authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to confidential business information, manipulation of enterprise data, and potentially further compromise of the underlying system.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-25065 is classified as CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), commonly known as Path Traversal. The vulnerability exists because Apache OFBiz does not adequately validate and sanitize path components in incoming HTTP requests. When processing URLs, the application fails to properly normalize path sequences such as ../ or encoded variants, allowing attackers to traverse outside of the intended directory structure and access protected endpoints without proper authentication.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring no user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences to a vulnerable Apache OFBiz instance. The malicious request manipulates the URL path to bypass authentication checks, effectively allowing the attacker to access restricted functionality.

The attack requires only network access to the target OFBiz deployment. Once the authentication bypass is achieved, attackers can potentially access sensitive business data, modify configurations, or leverage additional vulnerabilities within the application.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-25065

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP access logs containing unusual path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2F, %2e%2e/, or similar encoded variants in request URLs
• Unexpected access to administrative or protected endpoints from unauthenticated sources
• Anomalous patterns in application logs showing access to restricted resources without corresponding authentication events
• Network traffic analysis revealing requests with malformed or suspicious URL paths targeting OFBiz endpoints

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block requests containing path traversal patterns and encoded directory traversal sequences
• Monitor Apache OFBiz access logs for patterns indicative of path traversal attempts, including requests with multiple ../ sequences or URL-encoded equivalents
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for path traversal attacks against Java-based web applications
• Conduct regular vulnerability scanning of Apache OFBiz deployments to identify unpatched instances

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed access logging on Apache OFBiz and review logs regularly for suspicious request patterns
• Set up real-time alerting for requests containing path traversal indicators targeting OFBiz endpoints
• Monitor authentication events and correlate with application access patterns to identify potential bypass attempts
• Implement behavioral analysis to detect anomalous access patterns to protected resources

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-25065

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Apache OFBiz to version 18.12.12 or later immediately, as this version contains the security fix for CVE-2024-25065
• If immediate patching is not possible, restrict network access to Apache OFBiz deployments using firewalls or network segmentation
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal patterns as a temporary mitigation measure
• Audit access logs for any signs of prior exploitation before and during the upgrade process

Patch Information

Apache has released version 18.12.12 of OFBiz to address this vulnerability. Users are strongly recommended to upgrade to this version or later. The fix can be obtained from the Apache OFBiz Download Page. Detailed information about the security fix is available in the Apache OFBiz Release Notes 18.12.12. Additional security information can be found at the Apache OFBiz Security Overview.

Technical details about the issue are tracked in Apache Jira Issue OFBIZ-12887.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall in front of Apache OFBiz configured to normalize and validate URL paths before forwarding requests
• Implement strict input validation at the network perimeter to filter requests containing path traversal sequences
• Restrict access to Apache OFBiz to trusted networks only until the patch can be applied
• Consider temporarily disabling public-facing OFBiz services if they are not business-critical until the upgrade is complete