CVE-2025-2747: Kentico Xperience Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-2747 Overview

CVE-2025-2747 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in Kentico Xperience affecting the Staging Sync Server component. The flaw resides in password handling logic when the server is configured with the None authentication type. Attackers can bypass authentication and gain control of administrative objects without credentials. The issue affects Kentico Xperience versions through 13.0.178 and is tracked under [CWE-288] (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel). CISA has added this vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication on the Staging Sync Server and control administrative objects, enabling full compromise of the Kentico Xperience CMS.

Affected Products

Kentico Xperience versions through 13.0.178
Kentico Xperience 13 deployments with Staging Sync Server enabled
Instances configured with the None password authentication type

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-24 - CVE-2025-2747 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-11-06 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-2747

Vulnerability Analysis

The Staging Sync Server in Kentico Xperience enables content synchronization between environments through a SOAP-based web service. The server supports multiple authentication modes, including Username/Password, X.509, and None. When administrators configure the None authentication type, the server fails to enforce credential checks on incoming synchronization requests. Attackers reaching the staging endpoint can invoke administrative operations as if they had successfully authenticated. The vulnerability requires no user interaction and is exploitable over the network against the default web service path.

Follow-on exploitation chains documented by external researchers demonstrate that authentication bypass on the staging endpoint can lead to remote code execution against the underlying CMS. See the Watchtowr Authentication Bypass Analysis for the full exploit chain.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper handling of the None password authentication type in the Staging Sync Server. The SOAP handler does not differentiate between an administrator who explicitly disabled credentials and an unauthenticated remote attacker. Any request asserting None-style authentication is accepted, satisfying the alternate-path weakness described by [CWE-288].

Attack Vector

The attack vector is purely network-based. An attacker sends crafted SOAP requests to the public-facing Staging Sync Server endpoint, typically /CMSPages/Staging/SyncServer.asmx. The request body specifies the bypass condition, and the server processes administrative synchronization operations such as creating users, modifying objects, or deploying content. Refer to the VulnCheck Advisory on Kentico and the GitHub Auth Bypass Exploit for technical proof-of-concept details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-2747

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected SOAP requests to /CMSPages/Staging/SyncServer.asmx from untrusted sources
Creation of new administrative users or roles outside change-control windows
Staging task log entries showing object modifications without a corresponding authenticated session
Outbound connections from the CMS host to attacker-controlled infrastructure following staging activity

Detection Strategies

Inspect IIS and application logs for POST requests to staging endpoints originating from external IP ranges
Alert on SOAP payloads referencing ProcessSynchronizationTaskData or related staging methods when authentication type is None
Correlate administrative object changes in the CMS with the absence of interactive admin logins
Monitor for w3wp.exe spawning cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or other shells, which can indicate follow-on RCE

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward IIS, Windows Event, and Kentico application logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation
Baseline normal Staging Sync Server traffic patterns and alert on deviations
Track file system writes under the CMS web root for unauthorized .aspx or DLL artifacts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-2747

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Kentico hotfix that supersedes version 13.0.178 from the Kentico Hotfixes Download portal
Audit the Staging Sync Server configuration and remove any servers using the None authentication type
Review administrative users and recently modified objects for unauthorized changes
Restrict network access to staging endpoints to known synchronization peers only

Patch Information

Kentico has released hotfixes addressing CVE-2025-2747 for Xperience 13. Administrators should upgrade beyond version 13.0.178 using the official Kentico Hotfixes Download. The CVE is listed in the CISA Known Exploits Catalog, making remediation mandatory for U.S. federal agencies under BOD 22-01.

Workarounds

Reconfigure all Staging Sync Servers to use Username/Password or X.509 authentication instead of None
Block external access to /CMSPages/Staging/SyncServer.asmx at the web application firewall or reverse proxy
Disable the Staging Sync Server entirely on instances that do not require content synchronization
Place the CMS administration interface behind a VPN or IP allowlist until patching is complete

bash

# Example WAF rule to block external access to the staging endpoint
location ~* /CMSPages/Staging/SyncServer\.asmx {
    allow 10.0.0.0/8;       # internal sync peers
    allow 192.168.0.0/16;   # internal management
    deny all;
    return 403;
}