CVE-2024-51447 in Polarion
Summary
by MITRE • 05/13/2025
A vulnerability has been identified in Polarion V2310 (All versions), Polarion V2404 (All versions < V2404.2). The login implementation of the affected application contains an observable response discrepancy vulnerability when validating usernames. This could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to distinguish between valid and invalid usernames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
This vulnerability resides within the authentication mechanism of Polarion software versions 2310 and 2404, specifically prior to version 2404.2, creating a significant security risk through observable response discrepancies during username validation. The flaw manifests in the login implementation where the application exhibits different response behaviors when processing valid versus invalid usernames, providing attackers with a means to distinguish between existing and non-existing user accounts without authentication. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure through timing or response analysis, which aligns with CWE-203, "Observable Behavioral Differences," and represents a classic example of a username enumeration attack vector.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform user account enumeration by observing subtle differences in application responses when submitting various username inputs. When an attacker inputs a valid username, the system may return a response with different timing characteristics, error message formats, or HTTP status codes compared to when an invalid username is submitted. This differential response behavior creates a side-channel attack surface that allows attackers to systematically test username combinations and identify which accounts exist within the system. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication flow and represents a weakening of the principle of least privilege by exposing user account information through response analysis.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability significantly increases the risk of credential-based attacks including brute force attempts, account takeover scenarios, and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can leverage the enumeration capability to build comprehensive lists of valid user accounts, which then enables more sophisticated attacks such as password spraying or targeted credential stuffing attacks. The impact extends beyond simple account enumeration as it provides attackers with intelligence about the user base, potentially enabling them to craft more effective phishing campaigns or focus their efforts on high-value accounts. This vulnerability directly undermines the security posture of organizations relying on Polarion for their requirements management and collaboration needs.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing consistent and uniform response handling for all authentication attempts regardless of whether the username exists in the system. Organizations should ensure that the application returns identical response patterns for both valid and invalid username inputs, eliminating any observable differences in timing, error messages, or HTTP responses. The implementation should follow the principle of defensive programming by normalizing all authentication responses to maintain consistent behavior and prevent information leakage. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms to further protect against automated enumeration attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the ATT&CK framework's mitigation recommendations for credential access and reconnaissance activities, particularly focusing on preventing information disclosure through response analysis techniques.