CVE-2024-50618: CIPAce Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-50618 Overview

CVE-2024-50618 is a Use of Single-factor Authentication vulnerability (CWE-308) affecting the Authentication component of CIPPlanner CIPAce versions prior to 9.17. This weakness allows attackers to bypass authentication protection mechanisms when the system is configured to allow login with internal accounts. If the secret used in the single-factor authentication scheme becomes compromised, an attacker may potentially obtain full authentication access to the affected system.

Critical Impact

Compromised authentication secrets could allow unauthorized access to CIPAce systems, potentially exposing sensitive planning and project management data.

Affected Products

• CIPPlanner CIPAce versions prior to 9.17

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-11 - CVE CVE-2024-50618 published to NVD
• 2026-02-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-50618

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from the reliance on single-factor authentication within CIPPlanner CIPAce's authentication component. Single-factor authentication schemes depend solely on one credential type (typically a password or secret) to verify user identity. When systems are configured to permit internal account logins, this architectural weakness becomes exploitable if the authentication secret is compromised through various means such as phishing, credential stuffing, brute force attacks, or data breaches.

The vulnerability affects the authentication flow where no secondary verification mechanism exists to validate user identity beyond the initial secret. This design flaw violates modern security best practices that recommend multi-factor authentication (MFA) for protecting sensitive systems.

Root Cause

The root cause is the implementation of single-factor authentication without additional verification layers. CWE-308 (Use of Single-factor Authentication) describes scenarios where authentication relies on only one factor, making the system vulnerable if that single factor is compromised. In CIPAce's case, the authentication component does not enforce or support additional authentication factors when internal accounts are enabled, creating a security gap that attackers can exploit.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring an attacker to have network access to the CIPAce application. The attack scenario involves:

1. An attacker identifies a CIPAce instance configured with internal account authentication
2. The attacker obtains the authentication secret through credential theft, social engineering, or brute force
3. With only the single authentication factor compromised, the attacker gains full authentication to the system
4. No additional verification challenges prevent unauthorized access

The vulnerability does not require complex exploitation techniques. Once an attacker possesses a valid credential, the lack of secondary authentication factors allows straightforward unauthorized access. The network attack vector means the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the target system.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-50618

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual login patterns from unexpected geographic locations or IP addresses
• Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful logins
• Authentication events from accounts during atypical hours or from unusual user agents
• Concurrent sessions from different locations for the same user account

Detection Strategies

• Implement authentication logging and monitor for anomalous login behavior
• Deploy user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) to identify suspicious authentication patterns
• Enable alerting for failed login attempts exceeding defined thresholds
• Review audit logs for authentication events associated with internal accounts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline authentication patterns for normal user behavior
• Configure SIEM rules to detect credential-based attacks such as brute force or credential stuffing
• Monitor for lateral movement following successful authentication events
• Implement real-time alerting for privileged account authentications

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-50618

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade CIPPlanner CIPAce to version 9.17 or later immediately
• Enable multi-factor authentication if supported in the updated version
• Review and audit all internal account configurations for unauthorized changes
• Implement strong password policies and credential rotation for existing accounts

Patch Information

CIPPlanner has released a resolution for this vulnerability. Organizations should upgrade to CIPAce version 9.17 or later to address the single-factor authentication weakness. For detailed patch information and upgrade instructions, refer to the CIP Planner CVE-2024-50618 Resolution page.

Workarounds

• Consider disabling internal account authentication if external identity providers with MFA are available
• Implement network-level access controls to restrict authentication endpoints to trusted networks
• Deploy additional authentication controls at the network perimeter such as VPN with MFA
• Enable IP allowlisting to limit authentication attempts to known, trusted addresses