CVE-2025-54833 in FOIAXpress Public Access Link
Summary
by MITRE • 07/31/2025
OPEXUS FOIAXpress Public Access Link (PAL) version v11.1.0 allows attackers to bypass account-lockout and CAPTCHA protections. Unauthenticated remote attackers can more easily brute force passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-54833 affects OPEXUS FOIAXpress Public Access Link (PAL) version v11.1.0 and represents a critical weakness in the application's authentication security mechanisms. This flaw enables unauthenticated remote attackers to circumvent essential account lockout policies and CAPTCHA validation systems that are typically designed to prevent automated password brute force attacks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of authentication attempts, allowing attackers to submit multiple login requests without proper rate limiting or account protection enforcement. This weakness directly violates security best practices outlined in the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top Ten, specifically addressing weak authentication controls that leave systems vulnerable to credential stuffing and brute force attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's session management and authentication flow logic. When users attempt to access the system without proper authentication, the application should enforce strict rate limiting and CAPTCHA verification mechanisms to prevent automated attack vectors. However, in this case, the system fails to properly validate the number of authentication attempts or enforce account lockout policies that would normally trigger after a predetermined number of failed login attempts. This flaw allows attackers to rapidly iterate through potential password combinations without encountering the expected security barriers that would typically slow down or block automated attack tools. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of the affected system. Attackers can now conduct large-scale password brute force attacks against the application with minimal obstacles, potentially leading to unauthorized account access, data breaches, and privilege escalation within the system. The bypass of account lockout mechanisms means that traditional defense-in-depth strategies become ineffective, as attackers can continue their attempts without facing the expected delays or account lockouts that would normally deter such activities. This vulnerability particularly affects systems that rely on user authentication for accessing sensitive information or performing administrative functions, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust authentication controls and strengthening the application's security mechanisms. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or update to the latest version of FOIAXpress PAL that addresses this specific flaw. Additionally, implementing proper rate limiting and account lockout policies should be enforced at both the application and network levels to prevent excessive authentication attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of protection such as multi-factor authentication, IP address monitoring, and anomaly detection systems that can identify and block suspicious authentication patterns. The remediation process should align with industry standards including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and follow the ATT&CK framework's authentication bypass techniques to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities. Network administrators should also review firewall rules and access controls to limit the exposure of the vulnerable application to external threats while implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.