CVE-2026-107186 in Archibus
Summary
by MITRE • 10/19/2026
An unauthenticated user can send a DWR request with isPasswordUppercase as one call method and the next call method can be set to a run workflow rule. This allows for workflow rules to be run without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical authorization bypass within Dynamic Web Remoting (DWR) implementations, specifically affecting systems that utilize DWR for server-side JavaScript execution and remote procedure calls. In this scenario, an unauthenticated attacker can exploit the stateful nature of certain DWR configurations to manipulate session context or request parsing logic. By sending a specific sequence of requests where one call targets a method such as isPasswordUppercase, which may be designed to validate password complexity requirements without requiring full authentication for basic syntax checks, and immediately follows it with a second call targeting a run workflow rule endpoint, the attacker leverages a race condition or state leakage flaw. This allows the system to incorrectly associate the privileged action of executing a workflow rule with the context established by the initial unauthenticated request, thereby bypassing mandatory access controls that should prevent unauthorized execution of administrative or sensitive business logic workflows.
From a technical perspective, this issue stems from improper separation of concerns and insufficient validation of authentication states across sequential remote method invocations within the same session or connection pool. DWR frameworks often maintain state between calls to optimize performance, but if the framework does not strictly enforce that every individual call requires independent authentication verification, an attacker can chain unauthenticated operations with privileged ones. The isPasswordUppercase check likely serves as a low-level validation function that might be exposed publicly for user experience purposes, such as real-time password feedback during registration or login attempts. However, the subsequent invocation of run workflow rule indicates a high-privilege operation that should require explicit authentication tokens or session cookies. The failure to isolate these operations allows the attacker to piggyback on the initial request's context, effectively tricking the server into executing administrative workflows without valid credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it grants unauthenticated actors the ability to execute arbitrary workflow rules defined within the application. Workflow engines typically handle complex business processes that may involve data modification, notification dispatches, approval chains, or integration with external systems. Unauthorized execution can lead to unauthorized data changes, escalation of privileges if the workflows interact with administrative functions, denial of service through resource exhaustion via repeated rule executions, or leakage of sensitive information processed by these rules. In enterprise environments where workflow engines manage critical business logic, such as order processing, HR actions, or financial transactions, this bypass could result in significant financial loss, regulatory non-compliance, and compromise of data integrity across the organization's digital infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which describes Improper Authentication, specifically where an entity is not adequately authenticated before performing a privileged action. Furthermore, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as the attacker exploits valid but improperly validated session states or request contexts to gain unauthorized access. It also relates to CWE-639, Authorization Bypass Through User Control of Key, if the workflow rule identifier is manipulated, though in this case, it is more directly a bypass through improper state management and authentication checks across multiple calls. The exploitation vector falls under T1190, Exploit Public-Facing Application, as DWR endpoints are often exposed to external networks for remote functionality.
Mitigation strategies must focus on enforcing strict authentication requirements at the method level rather than relying solely on session-level or request-level assumptions. Developers should configure their DWR framework settings to require explicit authentication checks for every single remote call, ensuring that no state from an unauthenticated request influences subsequent privileged operations. Implementing robust input validation and ensuring that sensitive methods like run workflow rule are explicitly excluded from public access lists is essential. Additionally, adopting a zero-trust architecture where each API invocation is independently verified against current user permissions can prevent such chaining attacks. Regular security audits of remote procedure call configurations and the implementation of rate limiting on unauthenticated endpoints can further reduce the risk of exploitation by making it harder for attackers to perform rapid sequential calls that rely on timing or state leakage vulnerabilities.