CVE-2025-15563: WorkTime Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-15563 Overview

CVE-2025-15563 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) affecting WorkTime on-premises server deployments. The vulnerability allows any unauthenticated user to reset the WorkTime database configuration by sending a specific HTTP request to the server. No authorization check is applied to this functionality, enabling remote attackers to manipulate critical database settings without any credentials.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can remotely reset database configurations on WorkTime on-premises servers, potentially causing data loss, service disruption, or enabling further attacks through misconfigured database settings.

Affected Products

• WorkTime On-Premises Server

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-19 - CVE CVE-2025-15563 published to NVD
• 2026-02-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-15563

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a critical Missing Authorization flaw (CWE-862) in the WorkTime on-premises server. The core issue stems from the absence of authentication and authorization checks on an administrative endpoint responsible for database configuration management. When an attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint, the server processes the request without validating whether the requester has the necessary privileges to perform such a sensitive operation.

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to reset database configurations remotely. This could result in service disruption, loss of database connectivity, potential data exposure if configurations are reset to insecure defaults, or could serve as a stepping stone for further attacks by forcing the application into a misconfigured state.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is a missing authorization check in the WorkTime server's HTTP request handler for database configuration operations. The affected endpoint fails to verify that incoming requests originate from authenticated and authorized users before processing configuration reset commands. This is a classic example of broken access control where sensitive administrative functionality is exposed without proper security controls.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network by any unauthenticated user who can reach the WorkTime server. An attacker simply needs to craft and send a specific HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint on the WorkTime server. Since no authentication is required, the attack has a low complexity and can be performed by anyone with network access to the target system.

The exploitation does not require any special tools or privileges. An attacker would need to identify a vulnerable WorkTime on-premises installation and send the crafted HTTP request. The server processes the request and resets the database configuration without any validation of the requester's identity or authorization level.

For technical details regarding the specific HTTP endpoint and request format, refer to the SEC Consult advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15563

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected database configuration changes or resets on WorkTime servers
• Unusual HTTP requests to administrative endpoints from unknown or external IP addresses
• Service disruptions or connectivity issues following suspicious network activity
• Log entries showing database configuration operations without corresponding authenticated user sessions

Detection Strategies

• Monitor HTTP access logs for requests to administrative configuration endpoints from unauthenticated sessions
• Implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns targeting WorkTime servers
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to block unauthorized requests to sensitive endpoints
• Configure alerting for any database configuration changes that occur outside of scheduled maintenance windows

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on WorkTime servers to capture all administrative operations
• Implement real-time monitoring of database configuration files for unauthorized modifications
• Set up network intrusion detection to identify reconnaissance and exploitation attempts
• Review access logs regularly for patterns indicating exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15563

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to WorkTime on-premises servers using firewall rules to allow only trusted IP addresses
• Implement a reverse proxy or web application firewall in front of WorkTime servers to filter malicious requests
• Monitor for any signs of exploitation and investigate any unexpected database configuration changes
• Contact WorkTime vendor for security patches or updated versions that address this vulnerability

Patch Information

No official patch information is currently available in the CVE data. Organizations should monitor the SEC Consult advisory and the WorkTime vendor's official channels for security updates and patching guidance.

Workarounds

• Deploy network segmentation to isolate WorkTime servers from untrusted networks
• Implement IP whitelisting at the firewall level to restrict access to only authorized administrators
• Use a reverse proxy with authentication requirements for all administrative endpoints
• Consider temporarily disabling external network access to vulnerable WorkTime servers until a patch is available

# Example firewall configuration to restrict access to WorkTime server
# Allow only trusted admin network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
# Block all other access to WorkTime ports
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP