CVE-2024-27253: IBM DOORS Next Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-27253 Overview

CVE-2024-27253 is an authentication weakness in IBM DOORS Next, a requirements management platform used across regulated industries. The vulnerability affects IBM DOORS Next 7.0.3 through 7.0.3 Interim Fix 018. An authenticated user can bypass security logic within the application to perform unauthorized activities beyond their assigned privileges. The flaw is classified under [CWE-287: Improper Authentication] and carries a maximum CVSS 3.1 base score. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of requirements data managed in the platform.

Critical Impact
An authenticated user can bypass authentication logic in IBM DOORS Next 7.0.3 to perform unauthorized activities that affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

IBM DOORS Next 7.0.3
IBM DOORS Next 7.0.3 through Interim Fix 018
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS Next deployments running the affected release train

Discovery Timeline

2026-08-12 - CVE-2024-27253 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-08-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-27253

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-27253 is an authentication bypass affecting the security enforcement layer of IBM DOORS Next. The product manages engineering requirements, baselines, and traceability data, so unauthorized activity has direct business impact. An attacker with valid credentials can bypass authorization checks that should gate sensitive operations. The scope change indicated in the CVSS vector means impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to other resources under different security authorities. This suggests the bypass reaches downstream services, integrations, or shared data stores connected to DOORS Next.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper authentication logic within IBM DOORS Next 7.0.3 through Interim Fix 018. The application evaluates a user's identity or session state incorrectly when authorizing certain operations. As a result, security decisions do not consistently enforce the intended access policy. IBM's advisory identifies the defect as insufficient authentication enforcement rather than a missing check for a specific endpoint.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to a DOORS Next instance and valid application credentials. No user interaction is required, and attack complexity is low. Once authenticated, the attacker issues requests that trigger the flawed security logic to perform actions outside their permitted scope. Refer to the IBM Security Advisory for vendor technical details.

No public exploit or proof of concept is available at this time. See the IBM Security Advisory for vendor guidance on the vulnerable code path.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-27253

Indicators of Compromise

Application actions performed by user accounts that exceed their assigned project roles or permissions in DOORS Next
HTTP requests to DOORS Next APIs returning success for operations the user should not be authorized to perform
Unexpected modifications to requirements, baselines, or configurations attributed to standard or read-only users
Access to artifacts across project areas by accounts scoped to a single project

Detection Strategies

Correlate DOORS Next audit logs with the Jazz Team Server authorization model to identify actions that should have been denied
Baseline typical API call patterns per user role and alert on deviations, particularly write or administrative operations from lower-privileged accounts
Review access logs for repeated calls to sensitive endpoints from a single authenticated session

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward DOORS Next and Jazz Team Server logs to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation
Alert on privilege changes, project area membership changes, and permission grant events initiated by non-administrative accounts
Monitor authentication events for accounts accessing DOORS Next from unusual source networks or at atypical times

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-27253

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the fix released by IBM for DOORS Next 7.0.3 as described in the IBM Security Advisory
Inventory all DOORS Next 7.0.3 deployments, including those through Interim Fix 018, and prioritize patching for internet-exposed instances
Rotate credentials for high-privilege DOORS Next accounts and review recently created accounts for anomalies
Audit recent activity in requirements repositories for unauthorized changes

Patch Information

IBM has published remediation guidance in the IBM Security Advisory for CVE-2024-27253. Administrators should apply the fix version specified in that advisory for DOORS Next 7.0.3. Verify the installed interim fix level after patching to confirm the vulnerable code path has been replaced.

Workarounds

Restrict network access to DOORS Next to trusted corporate networks or VPN users while patching is scheduled
Enforce least privilege by reducing project area membership and role assignments to the minimum required
Increase audit logging verbosity to capture all authorization decisions during the remediation window
Require multi-factor authentication for all DOORS Next users to raise the cost of credential compromise

bash

# Configuration example
# Verify installed DOORS Next version and interim fix level
# Refer to IBM Security Advisory 7282705 for the fixed release identifier