CVE-2024-45195: Apache OFBiz Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-45195 Overview

CVE-2024-45195 is a Direct Request vulnerability, commonly known as "Forced Browsing," affecting Apache OFBiz, an open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access restricted resources by directly requesting URLs that should require authentication. The flaw exists in versions of Apache OFBiz prior to 18.12.16 and enables attackers to bypass access controls to gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and has been added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access confidential enterprise data without authentication, potentially compromising business-critical information.

Affected Products

• Apache OFBiz versions prior to 18.12.16
• All Apache OFBiz deployments running vulnerable versions
• Organizations using OFBiz for ERP, CRM, or e-commerce functionalities

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-09-04 - CVE-2024-45195 published to NVD
• 2025-10-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-45195

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-425 (Direct Request or Forced Browsing), which occurs when a web application does not properly enforce authorization checks on restricted resources. In Apache OFBiz, attackers can bypass the intended access control mechanisms by directly requesting URLs to protected endpoints without having valid session credentials.

The vulnerability allows network-based exploitation without requiring user interaction or prior authentication. When successfully exploited, attackers can read sensitive data that should be protected behind authentication barriers. This is particularly concerning for OFBiz deployments that handle confidential business information including customer data, financial records, and supply chain information.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-45195 lies in insufficient authorization enforcement within Apache OFBiz's request handling mechanism. The application fails to properly validate that incoming requests to protected resources originate from authenticated and authorized users. This architectural weakness allows attackers to craft direct HTTP requests to restricted endpoints, effectively bypassing the authentication layer that would normally protect these resources.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this flaw by:

1. Identifying protected endpoints within the Apache OFBiz application
2. Crafting direct HTTP requests to these endpoints without valid session tokens
3. Receiving responses containing sensitive data that should be access-controlled

The vulnerability is exploited through direct HTTP requests to OFBiz endpoints. Attackers enumerate protected URL paths and submit requests without authentication headers. The application returns sensitive data due to missing authorization checks on the server side. For detailed technical information, refer to the Apache OFBiz Issue OFBIZ-13130 and the Apache Mailing List Discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-45195

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to OFBiz administrative or protected endpoints from unauthenticated sources
• Web server logs showing access to restricted URLs without corresponding authentication events
• Increased traffic patterns targeting OFBiz application paths from external IP addresses
• Data exfiltration indicators such as large response sizes to unauthenticated requests

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block forced browsing attempts targeting OFBiz endpoints
• Enable detailed access logging on all OFBiz instances to capture requests to protected resources
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for Apache OFBiz exploitation patterns
• Monitor for reconnaissance activity including URL enumeration and parameter fuzzing against OFBiz deployments

Monitoring Recommendations

• Review web server access logs regularly for requests to administrative endpoints without valid session cookies
• Set up alerts for any access to protected OFBiz resources that bypasses the normal authentication flow
• Implement network-level monitoring to detect scanning activity targeting OFBiz installations
• Correlate authentication logs with access logs to identify discrepancies indicating forced browsing attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-45195

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade all Apache OFBiz installations to version 18.12.16 or later immediately
• Review access logs for signs of exploitation and investigate any suspicious activity
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of OFBiz instances to untrusted networks
• Enable additional authentication mechanisms such as IP whitelisting or VPN requirements for administrative access

Patch Information

Apache has released version 18.12.16 which addresses this vulnerability by implementing proper authorization checks on all protected endpoints. Users are strongly recommended to upgrade to this version or later. The patched version can be obtained from the Apache OFBiz Download Page. Additional security information is available at the Apache OFBiz Security Information page.

Given that this vulnerability is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, federal agencies and organizations following CISA guidance should prioritize remediation according to the specified deadlines.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to OFBiz instances using firewall rules to allow only trusted IP ranges
• Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall in front of OFBiz to enforce authentication at the perimeter
• Disable or remove any unnecessary OFBiz components or endpoints that are not required for business operations
• Implement additional authentication layers such as basic authentication at the web server level as a temporary measure

# Example: Restrict access to OFBiz using iptables
# Allow access only from trusted internal network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8443 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8443 -j DROP

# Example: Apache configuration to require authentication
# Add to VirtualHost configuration for OFBiz
# <Location />
#     AuthType Basic
#     AuthName "Restricted Access"
#     AuthUserFile /etc/apache2/.htpasswd
#     Require valid-user
# </Location>