CVE-2023-4501: microfocus cobol_server Incorrect Check of Function Return Value

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2023-4501 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Incorrect Check of Function Return Value vulnerability in microfocus cobol_server. EPSS estimates a 0.76% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 54.4% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 12-09-2023
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 04-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

User authentication with username and password credentials is ineffective in OpenText (Micro Focus) Visual COBOL, COBOL Server, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Server (including product variants such as Enterprise Test Server), versions 7.0 patch updates 19 and 20, 8.0 patch updates 8 and 9, and 9.0 patch update 1, when LDAP-based authentication is used with certain configurations. When the vulnerability is active, authentication succeeds with any valid username, regardless of whether the password is correct; it may also succeed with an invalid username (and any password). This allows an attacker with access to the product to impersonate any user. Mitigations: The issue is corrected in the upcoming patch update for each affected product. Product overlays and workaround instructions are available through OpenText Support. The vulnerable configurations are believed to be uncommon. Administrators can test for the vulnerability in their installations by attempting to sign on to a Visual COBOL or Enterprise Server component such as ESCWA using a valid username and incorrect password.

• CWE-253Incorrect Check of Function Return ValueThe product incorrectly checks a return value from a function, which prevents it from detecting errors or exceptional conditions.
• CWE-287Improper AuthenticationWhen an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
• CWE-305Authentication Bypass by Primary WeaknessThe authentication algorithm is sound, but the implemented mechanism can be bypassed as the result of a separate weakness that is primary to the authentication error.
• CWE-358Improperly Implemented Security Check for StandardThe product does not implement or incorrectly implements one or more security-relevant checks as specified by the design of a standardized algorithm, protocol, or technique.