CVE-2025-56423
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in OpenAtlas v8.12.0 allows remote attackers to enumerate valid usernames through login error messages. Attackers can determine which accounts exist in the system by analyzing differences in error responses. This affects all organizations using the vulnerable version of OpenAtlas.
💻 Affected Systems
- Austrian Academy of Sciences Austrian Archaeological Institute OpenAtlas
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers can enumerate all valid usernames, enabling targeted password attacks and potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive archaeological data.
Likely Case
Attackers identify valid usernames and conduct targeted brute-force or credential stuffing attacks against those accounts.
If Mitigated
With proper monitoring and strong password policies, impact is limited to username disclosure without account compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires only web access to login page and basic scripting/tools to analyze error message differences.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: Not available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Monitor vendor channels for security updates
2. Apply patch when available
3. Test in development environment before production deployment
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Generic Login Error Messages
allModify login functionality to return identical error messages for both invalid username and invalid password scenarios
Modify OpenAtlas source code to standardize login error responses
Rate Limiting
allImplement rate limiting on login attempts to slow down enumeration attacks
Configure web server or application rate limiting rules
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block user enumeration patterns
- Enable detailed logging of failed login attempts and monitor for enumeration patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test login with valid and invalid usernames - if error messages differ, system is vulnerableCheck Version:
Check OpenAtlas version in application interface or configuration filesVerify Fix Applied:
Verify that both invalid username and invalid password attempts return identical generic error messages📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple failed login attempts with different usernames from same source
- Pattern of login attempts with sequential usernames
Network Indicators:
- Unusual volume of POST requests to login endpoint
- Rapid sequential login attempts
SIEM Query:
source_ip=* AND (url_path="/login" OR url_path="/auth") AND status_code=401 | stats count by source_ip, username