CVE-2024-6914 in API Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 05/22/2025
An incorrect authorization vulnerability exists in multiple WSO2 products due to a business logic flaw in the account recovery-related SOAP admin service. A malicious actor can exploit this vulnerability to reset the password of any user account, leading to a complete account takeover, including accounts with elevated privileges.
This vulnerability is exploitable only through the account recovery SOAP admin services exposed via the "/services" context path in affected products. The impact may be reduced if access to these endpoints has been restricted based on the "Security Guidelines for Production Deployment" by disabling exposure to untrusted networks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6914 represents a critical authorization flaw within multiple WSO2 products that stems from a business logic error in the account recovery SOAP admin service. This weakness creates a pathway for unauthorized actors to manipulate the authentication system and execute complete account takeovers. The vulnerability specifically targets the account recovery functionality that should only be accessible to legitimate users or authorized administrative processes, yet fails to properly validate access permissions. The flaw exists in the SOAP admin service endpoints exposed through the "/services" context path, making it directly exploitable by malicious actors who can construct and submit unauthorized requests to reset passwords for any user account within the system. This business logic error fundamentally undermines the security controls that should protect privileged accounts and maintain the integrity of the authentication system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system fails to properly verify the identity and privileges of the requesting entity before executing account recovery operations. The SOAP service interface exposes functionality that should be restricted to authorized administrators or legitimate account holders, but due to the flawed business logic, any external entity capable of accessing the exposed service can submit requests to reset passwords for arbitrary user accounts. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-862 which describes "Missing Authorization" and represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal authentication flows and directly manipulate user accounts through the account recovery mechanism, effectively providing an alternative attack vector that circumvents standard security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-6914 extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it enables complete account takeover scenarios that can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources. When attackers can reset passwords for accounts with elevated privileges, they gain access to administrative functions, confidential information, and potentially entire network infrastructures depending on the WSO2 product deployment. This vulnerability can be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the affected environment. The impact is particularly severe in production deployments where WSO2 products are used for identity management, API gateway services, or enterprise integration platforms where account takeovers can lead to significant data breaches and operational disruptions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage compromised credentials to maintain access, though the initial compromise occurs through the authorization bypass rather than traditional phishing techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6914 should focus on restricting access to the exposed SOAP admin services through network segmentation and access control measures. Organizations should implement strict firewall rules that limit access to the "/services" context path to trusted internal networks only, and disable exposure to untrusted networks as recommended in the WSO2 Security Guidelines for Production Deployment. Additional controls include implementing strong authentication mechanisms for the admin services, enabling multi-factor authentication, and regularly auditing access logs for suspicious activity. The affected WSO2 products should be updated with patches provided by the vendor to address the business logic flaw in the account recovery service. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of account recovery requests, particularly those that occur outside normal business hours or from unexpected IP addresses. Security teams should also implement proper network segmentation to ensure that even if an attacker gains access to one service, they cannot easily move laterally to access other critical systems within the enterprise environment.