WebMethods Integration Server 10.15.0 Vulnerability: Unauthenticated Access to Admin Panel (CVE-2024-23733)

A critical vulnerability in Software AG’s webMethods Integration Server 10.15.0 allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication and access sensitive administrative interfaces. Tracked as CVE-2024-23733, this flaw affects version 10.15.0.0000-0092 and was publicly disclosed on April 16, 2025, by researcher Rasime Ekici¹. The vendor has addressed the issue in Core_Fix7, but unpatched systems remain exposed to information disclosure risks.

Technical Analysis of the Vulnerability

The vulnerability resides in the `/WmAdmin/` and `/invoke/vm.server/login` endpoints, which fail to properly validate authentication attempts. Attackers can submit arbitrary usernames with blank passwords to gain unauthorized access to the administration panel. This bypass reveals critical system information, including the server hostname, version details, and administrative API endpoints².

Exploitation requires sending a specially crafted request to the login page. For example, submitting a dummy username (such as `*`) with an empty password to `/WmAdmin/#/login/` triggers the vulnerability. Successful exploitation allows attackers to maintain access by dropping subsequent requests to `/admin/navigation/license`³. While this doesn’t provide full administrative privileges, it exposes sensitive information that could facilitate further attacks.

Proof of Concept and Exploitation Details

The Exploit-DB entry for this vulnerability includes a working proof of concept that demonstrates the authentication bypass¹. The exploit takes advantage of improper input validation in the login process, where the system accepts blank passwords when paired with any username. This behavior differs from the expected authentication flow, which should reject such attempts.

Security researchers have confirmed that the vulnerability affects default installations of webMethods Integration Server 10.15.0. The GitHub repository maintained by the discoverer contains additional technical analysis of the flaw, including packet captures showing the exploit in action³.

Mitigation and Remediation

Software AG has released Core_Fix7 to address this vulnerability. Organizations using affected versions should immediately upgrade to the patched release. For systems that cannot be immediately updated, network-level controls should be implemented to restrict access to the administrative interfaces.

Security teams should monitor for suspicious access attempts to the `/WmAdmin/` and `/invoke/vm.server/login` endpoints. Logs should be reviewed for authentication attempts with blank passwords or unusual usernames. The vendor recommends implementing additional authentication controls, such as multi-factor authentication, for administrative access⁴.

Impact and Risk Assessment

While classified as a low-complexity vulnerability, CVE-2024-23733 presents significant risk due to the potential for information disclosure. Exposed API endpoints and version information could help attackers plan more sophisticated attacks against vulnerable systems. The availability of public exploits increases the urgency for patching.

The vulnerability has been discussed in security forums, with some researchers noting similarities to previous authentication bypass issues in middleware products². The disclosure follows responsible vulnerability reporting practices, with the researcher coordinating with Software AG before public release.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-23733 demonstrates the importance of proper authentication mechanisms in enterprise middleware solutions. Organizations using webMethods Integration Server should prioritize patching this vulnerability due to the low attack complexity and available public exploits. Security teams should review their systems for similar authentication bypass patterns, particularly in administrative interfaces.

The case highlights how seemingly minor flaws in authentication logic can lead to significant security exposures. Regular security updates and proper input validation remain essential defenses against such vulnerabilities in enterprise software.