CVE-2024-23685 is a vulnerability identified in the mod-remote-storage component, specifically affecting versions below 1.7.2 and versions from 2.0.0 to 2.0.3. The root cause is the presence of hard-coded credentials embedded within the software, which can be exploited by unauthorized users to gain read access to mod-inventory-storage records. These records include critical data such as instances, holdings, items, contributor-types, and identifier-types, which are typically used in library and archival inventory management systems. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network, making it accessible to attackers without authentication. The CVSS v3.1 score of 5.3 (medium severity) reflects that the vulnerability impacts confidentiality only, with no effect on integrity or availability. The weakness corresponds to CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), a common security flaw that can lead to unauthorized data disclosure. Although no public exploits have been reported, the presence of hard-coded credentials is a significant security risk because it can facilitate unauthorized reconnaissance and data harvesting. The affected software is often deployed in cultural, academic, and public institutions managing large inventories of physical and digital assets, making the confidentiality breach potentially sensitive. The vulnerability was published on January 19, 2024, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided data, indicating that users should seek updated versions or vendor advisories. Overall, this vulnerability highlights the risks of embedding static credentials in software components that manage sensitive inventory data.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-23685 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive inventory data managed by mod-inventory-storage, including detailed records of instances, holdings, items, contributor-types, and identifier-types. For European organizations, especially libraries, archives, museums, and cultural heritage institutions that rely on mod-remote-storage for managing their collections, this could lead to exposure of confidential metadata and inventory details. Such information leakage may facilitate further targeted attacks, social engineering, or unauthorized data aggregation. Although the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could undermine trust, violate data protection policies, and potentially contravene regulations like GDPR if personal or sensitive data is involved. The ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk profile, particularly for publicly accessible deployments. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers could develop exploits based on the disclosed vulnerability. European organizations with limited patch management resources or those using older versions of mod-remote-storage are particularly vulnerable. The impact is more pronounced in sectors where inventory data is sensitive or strategically important, such as national libraries or research institutions.

1. Upgrade affected mod-remote-storage instances to versions later than 1.7.2 or beyond 2.0.3 where the hard-coded credentials issue is resolved. 2. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, implement network-level access controls to restrict access to mod-inventory-storage APIs only to trusted internal networks or authenticated users. 3. Conduct a thorough audit of all mod-remote-storage deployments to identify and remove any hard-coded credentials or replace them with secure, dynamically managed secrets. 4. Employ application-layer authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only authorized personnel can access inventory data. 5. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual or unauthorized access attempts targeting mod-inventory-storage endpoints. 6. Educate system administrators and developers about the risks of hard-coded credentials and enforce secure coding practices. 7. Coordinate with software vendors or open-source communities to obtain patches or mitigations and stay updated on vulnerability disclosures. 8. Consider implementing data encryption at rest and in transit to further protect sensitive inventory data from unauthorized access.