CVE-2024-56523 in Cloud Web Application Firewall
Summary
by MITRE • 05/12/2025
Radware Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) before 2025-05-07 allows remote attackers to bypass firewall filters by placing random data in the HTTP request body when using the HTTP GET method.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2025
The Radware Cloud Web Application Firewall vulnerability CVE-2024-56523 represents a critical bypass flaw that undermines the fundamental security controls designed to protect web applications from malicious HTTP requests. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of the Cloud WAF released prior to May 7, 2025, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this security infrastructure. The flaw exploits a weakness in how the firewall processes HTTP GET requests that contain random data within the request body, allowing attackers to circumvent established filtering rules and potentially execute unauthorized operations against protected applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of HTTP request structures when the GET method is employed with body content. Typically, HTTP GET requests are expected to contain no body content, as they are designed to retrieve data from servers without modifying resources. However, the Radware WAF fails to properly sanitize or validate the presence of arbitrary data within the request body when using GET methods, creating a pathway for attackers to inject malicious payloads that bypass security controls. This behavior aligns with CWE-444, which addresses improper handling of HTTP requests, specifically focusing on inconsistent behavior between different HTTP methods and their expected data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple bypass scenarios, as it enables attackers to potentially evade detection mechanisms that rely on content filtering and pattern matching within request bodies. Security teams may experience false negatives when monitoring traffic, as legitimate security rules designed to block malicious content are circumvented by the random data placement technique. This vulnerability particularly affects web application security by undermining the integrity of the WAF's filtering engine, which is expected to consistently evaluate all request components regardless of their method or structure. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or privileged access, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can send HTTP requests to the affected system.
Organizations utilizing the affected Radware Cloud WAF versions face significant risk of data exfiltration, injection attacks, and potential application compromise if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The bypass capability allows attackers to test various payloads against the WAF's filtering rules, potentially discovering additional weaknesses in the security posture. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566.001 for phishing, as attackers can craft GET requests that appear legitimate while containing malicious content. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated attack tools are commonly deployed.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Radware Cloud WAF instances to version 2025-05-07 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper HTTP GET request body validation. Security administrators should also implement additional monitoring controls to detect unusual patterns in HTTP GET requests that contain body content, as these may indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and additional security layers such as API gateways or additional WAF implementations can provide defense-in-depth protection while patches are being deployed. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that might be indirectly affected by this weakness, particularly those that rely on the Radware Cloud WAF for protection. The implementation of strict HTTP method validation policies and regular security testing should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other security controls.