CVE-2025-29997 Overview
CVE-2025-29997 is an authorization flaw in the CAP back office application. The vulnerability stems from improper authorization checks on certain API endpoints. An authenticated remote attacker can manipulate API request URLs to access other user accounts without permission.
The issue is categorized under [CWE-863] Incorrect Authorization. It was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on March 13, 2025, with details published by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can horizontally escalate privileges across user accounts by tampering with API request URLs, exposing confidential user data stored in the CAP back office.
Affected Products
- CAP back office application (vendor-specific deployment as referenced in CERT-In advisory CIVN-2025-0048)
- API endpoints lacking server-side authorization validation
- Customer and user account data managed through the affected back office
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-13 - CVE-2025-29997 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-29997
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a horizontal privilege escalation flaw caused by missing authorization controls on API endpoints in the CAP back office. The application authenticates the requesting user but fails to verify that the requested resource belongs to that user.
An authenticated attacker can substitute identifiers in API request URLs, such as account numbers, user IDs, or resource references. The server returns data belonging to other accounts without enforcing ownership checks. This is a classic Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) pattern.
The attack requires valid credentials but no elevated privileges. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability of the targeted system remain unchanged. According to CERT-In advisory CIVN-2025-0048, the issue affects business-critical user account data.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of object-level authorization enforcement on server-side API handlers. The application relies on session authentication alone and does not bind requested resources to the authenticated principal. CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization) captures this design defect.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based with high attack complexity. An attacker authenticates with valid CAP back office credentials, intercepts a legitimate API request, and modifies object identifiers in the URL path or query parameters. The server returns data tied to the modified identifier rather than the attacker's session principal.
No verified proof-of-concept code has been published. The vulnerability mechanism is documented in the CERT-In Vulnerability Note CIVN-2025-0048.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-29997
Indicators of Compromise
- Repeated API requests from a single authenticated session targeting sequential or enumerated resource identifiers
- API response payloads containing user identifiers that do not match the authenticated session principal
- Anomalous spikes in GET requests against account-scoped API endpoints from a single user
- Authentication logs showing one user accessing multiple distinct customer records within a short interval
Detection Strategies
- Correlate the authenticated user identifier in session tokens against the resource identifier returned in API responses to detect mismatches
- Deploy runtime API monitoring that flags sequential or enumerated identifier access patterns indicative of IDOR probing
- Review CAP back office audit logs for accounts accessing records outside their assigned customer scope
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on all CAP back office API endpoints capturing request URL, session user, and response object identifiers
- Forward API gateway logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation against authenticated user-to-resource mapping baselines
- Establish behavioral baselines for per-user resource access volume and alert on deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-29997
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the vendor patch referenced in CERT-In advisory CIVN-2025-0048 to the CAP back office application
- Audit recent API access logs for evidence of cross-account data retrieval and notify affected users where applicable
- Restrict CAP back office API access to known IP ranges and enforce multi-factor authentication for all back office accounts
Patch Information
Refer to the CERT-In Vulnerability Note CIVN-2025-0048 for vendor-supplied remediation guidance. Apply the latest available CAP back office security update from the vendor as soon as it is released for the deployment.
Workarounds
- Implement a reverse proxy or API gateway rule that validates the requesting user's identifier against the resource identifier in the request path before forwarding to the back office
- Temporarily restrict access to vulnerable API endpoints to trusted administrative users until the patch is deployed
- Rotate session tokens and credentials for all CAP back office users to invalidate any sessions potentially used for unauthorized access
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
