CVE-2023-4501 in OpenText
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2023
User authentication with username and password credentials is ineffective in OpenText (Micro Focus) Visual COBOL, COBOL Server, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Server (including product variants such as Enterprise Test Server), versions 7.0 patch updates 19 and 20, 8.0 patch updates 8 and 9, and 9.0 patch update 1, when LDAP-based authentication is used with certain configurations. When the vulnerability is active, authentication succeeds with any valid username, regardless of whether the password is correct; it may also succeed with an invalid username (and any password). This allows an attacker with access to the product to impersonate any user.
Mitigations: The issue is corrected in the upcoming patch update for each affected product. Product overlays and workaround instructions are available through OpenText Support. The vulnerable configurations are believed to be uncommon.
Administrators can test for the vulnerability in their installations by attempting to sign on to a Visual COBOL or Enterprise Server component such as ESCWA using a valid username and incorrect password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2023-4501 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting multiple products within the OpenText (Micro Focus) Visual COBOL ecosystem including COBOL Server, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Server variants. This security weakness specifically manifests when LDAP-based authentication is configured with certain parameters, creating a scenario where the system fails to properly validate password credentials during the authentication process. The flaw fundamentally undermines the core security principle of credential verification, allowing unauthorized access through manipulated authentication flows.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper implementation of authentication logic within the LDAP integration framework of these enterprise development tools. When configured with specific LDAP settings, the authentication subsystem fails to enforce password validation checks, creating a condition where any valid username will successfully authenticate regardless of password correctness. This behavior extends to invalid usernames as well, meaning attackers can exploit the vulnerability with either legitimate or fabricated user identities. The flaw operates at the authentication layer, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses normal access controls and privilege validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4501 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected OpenText products. Attackers with access to the vulnerable systems can seamlessly impersonate any user within the authenticated environment, potentially gaining access to sensitive development resources, source code repositories, configuration files, and other privileged information. This vulnerability effectively neutralizes the authentication mechanism, allowing unauthorized individuals to assume the identity of legitimate users and perform actions within the system with their privileges. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data breaches, code manipulation, and system compromise.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations as recommended by OpenText support channels, which include applying the upcoming patch updates for each affected product version. The vulnerability affects specific patch levels including 7.0 updates 19 and 20, 8.0 updates 8 and 9, and 9.0 update 1, making it crucial for administrators to verify their current product versions and apply appropriate patches. Security teams can test for vulnerability by attempting authentication with valid usernames and incorrect passwords, which should fail in properly configured systems but will succeed in vulnerable installations. This testing approach aligns with standard penetration testing methodologies for authentication validation.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-287 Improper Authentication, which addresses issues where authentication mechanisms fail to properly validate credentials. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it enables adversaries to leverage valid user credentials for unauthorized access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls around authentication events to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fact that vulnerable configurations are believed to be uncommon provides some comfort, but the widespread use of these development tools across enterprise environments means the potential impact remains significant.