CVE-2024-10295 is a vulnerability identified in the APICast Gateway component used for API management and routing. The flaw arises from incorrect authorization handling when processing HTTP Basic Authentication headers. Specifically, if a client sends a malformed Basic Auth header that is not properly base64 encoded and contains special characters, the APICast Gateway fails to decode it correctly. This decoding failure causes the authentication logic to bypass subsequent checks and erroneously grant access to backend services. The root cause is a failure in the base64 decoding process that leads to skipping authentication verification steps. This vulnerability falls under CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization). It can be exploited remotely without any authentication or user interaction, making it a network-exploitable issue. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting high severity due to the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive backend resources. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the issue affects all versions of APICast Gateway prior to the fix. This vulnerability undermines the confidentiality of protected resources by allowing attackers to bypass authentication controls and access backend APIs that should be restricted. The lack of integrity or availability impact is noted, but unauthorized data exposure remains a critical concern. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations relying on APICast Gateway for API security and traffic management.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive data and backend services exposed via APICast Gateway. Unauthorized access could lead to data leakage, exposure of internal APIs, and potential misuse of backend systems. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government that rely on API gateways for secure service exposure are especially vulnerable. The ability to bypass authentication without credentials or user interaction increases the likelihood of exploitation by external attackers. This could result in regulatory compliance violations under GDPR due to unauthorized data access. Additionally, attackers could use this access to pivot within networks or gather intelligence for further attacks. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability’s simplicity and high impact necessitate urgent attention. Failure to address this flaw could damage organizational reputation and trust with customers and partners.

1. Immediately monitor API gateway logs for malformed or suspicious Basic Authentication headers containing special characters to detect potential exploitation attempts. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on authentication headers to ensure only properly base64-encoded credentials are processed. 3. Restrict access to APICast Gateway management and backend interfaces to trusted networks and authenticated users only. 4. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available to address the base64 decoding flaw. 5. Employ layered security controls such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block malformed authentication attempts. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on API gateway authentication mechanisms. 7. Educate development and operations teams about the risks of improper authentication handling and the importance of secure coding practices. 8. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication or alternative stronger authentication methods for API access where feasible.