CVE-2022-38168 is a critical security vulnerability classified as Broken Access Control (CWE-306) found in Avaya Scopia Pathfinder versions 10 and 20 PTS, specifically version 8.3.7.0.4. This vulnerability allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to bypass the login page entirely by manipulating URL parameters. By exploiting this flaw, attackers can gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and even reset user passwords without any authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability arises from improper enforcement of access control mechanisms in the user authentication process, enabling attackers to circumvent normal login procedures. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1 reflects the high impact on confidentiality and integrity, with an attack vector that is network-based, requires no privileges, and no user interaction. Although no public exploits have been reported in the wild, the severity and ease of exploitation make this a significant threat to organizations using the affected Avaya Scopia Pathfinder versions. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting further increases the risk profile for affected deployments.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is substantial. Avaya Scopia Pathfinder is used for video conferencing and collaboration, often in enterprise and government environments. Unauthorized access to sensitive information could lead to data breaches involving confidential communications, intellectual property, or personal data protected under GDPR. The ability to reset user passwords without authentication could allow attackers to take over accounts, leading to further lateral movement within networks and potential disruption of critical communication infrastructure. This could undermine business continuity, damage reputations, and result in regulatory penalties. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability and the lack of required authentication, attackers could exploit this remotely with minimal effort, increasing the likelihood of compromise in organizations relying on these systems for secure communication.

Organizations should immediately assess their use of Avaya Scopia Pathfinder versions 8.3.7.0.4 and related affected versions. Since no official patches are currently available, mitigation should focus on network-level controls such as restricting access to the Scopia Pathfinder management interfaces to trusted internal networks via firewall rules or VPNs. Implementing strict network segmentation can limit exposure. Monitoring and logging access attempts to the authentication endpoints should be enhanced to detect suspicious URL manipulation or unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling or restricting password reset functionality until a patch is available. Engaging with Avaya support for any available workarounds or updates is critical. Additionally, organizations should prepare incident response plans to quickly address potential exploitation and conduct regular security audits to ensure no unauthorized access has occurred.