CVE-2014-2034 in Nexus
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus OSS and Pro 2.4.0 through 2.7.1 allows attackers to create arbitrary user accounts via unknown vectors related to "an unauthenticated execution path."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2034 represents a critical security flaw in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager versions 2.4.0 through 2.7.1 affecting both the open source and professional editions. This issue stems from an insufficient access control mechanism that permits unauthorized users to exploit an unauthenticated execution path within the application's authentication framework. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vector suggests that multiple pathways may exist for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security assessments and remediation efforts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the application's failure to properly validate authentication status for specific execution paths within the user management functionality. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass normal authentication procedures and create arbitrary user accounts within the Nexus repository system. This unauthenticated execution path likely exists in components responsible for user registration or account creation processes, where proper session validation or authentication checks are either missing or inadequately implemented. The flaw operates at the application logic level, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the user creation workflow without providing valid credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2034 extends beyond simple account creation, as unauthorized users can establish persistent access points within the repository environment. This vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to repository resources, potentially leading to data exposure, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of the Nexus instance. The ability to create arbitrary user accounts undermines the fundamental security model of the application, as it allows attackers to establish legitimate-looking user profiles that may persist beyond the initial exploitation attempt. Organizations using affected Nexus versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their software artifacts, dependencies, and associated metadata.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Sonatype Nexus, implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to administrative functions, and conducting thorough access control reviews. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual user account creation patterns and ensure that administrative interfaces are properly protected through network segmentation and authentication controls. The remediation process requires careful validation of the patched versions to ensure that no regressions have been introduced while maintaining the integrity of existing repository configurations.