CVE-2024-10865 is a critical Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting OpenText Advance Authentication versions prior to 6.5. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.4, indicating a critical severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) and no user authentication (AU:N), but does require user interaction (UI:P) such as clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (VC:H, VI:H, VA:H), meaning an attacker can potentially steal sensitive information, manipulate data, or disrupt services. The scope is unchanged (S:N), meaning the vulnerability affects only the vulnerable component. The vulnerability is present because the application fails to properly validate or encode user-supplied input before including it in dynamically generated web pages, enabling script injection. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high severity and ease of exploitation make this a significant threat. OpenText Advance Authentication is a product used for identity and access management, often deployed in enterprise environments to secure user authentication workflows. An attacker exploiting this XSS vulnerability could execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the authentication portal.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially those relying on OpenText Advance Authentication for securing access to critical systems and sensitive data. Successful exploitation could lead to compromise of user credentials, unauthorized access to internal resources, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the criticality of authentication systems, any compromise can undermine the overall security posture, leading to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of their data and the high value of their authentication systems as attack targets. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to trigger the exploit, increasing the attack surface. Additionally, the lack of authentication requirement for exploitation means attackers can target users externally without needing prior access.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading OpenText Advance Authentication to version 6.5 or later, where this vulnerability is addressed. In the interim, organizations can implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the authentication portal. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within custom integrations or extensions to the authentication system. Security teams should monitor logs for suspicious activity indicative of XSS attempts, such as unusual URL parameters or script tags in requests. User awareness training to recognize phishing attempts can reduce the risk of user interaction exploitation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on authentication systems can help identify residual or related weaknesses. Finally, ensure incident response plans include scenarios for authentication system compromise to enable rapid containment and remediation.