CVE-2024-25605 is a vulnerability identified in the Journal module of Liferay Portal versions 7.2.0 through 7.4.3.4, including certain versions of Liferay DXP (7.4.13, 7.3 before service pack 3, 7.2 before fix pack 17), as well as older unsupported versions. The core issue stems from incorrect default permissions (CWE-276) where guest users are granted view permissions to web content templates by default. This misconfiguration allows unauthenticated remote attackers to access and view any web content template through the user interface or API without requiring authentication or user interaction. Web content templates in Liferay are used to define the structure and presentation of content displayed on portals, and unauthorized access to these templates can expose sensitive business logic, proprietary formatting, or internal content structures. Although the vulnerability does not directly allow modification or deletion of content, the exposure of templates can facilitate further reconnaissance and targeted attacks, such as social engineering or crafting malicious content injections. The vulnerability is classified as medium severity by the vendor, with no known exploits currently in the wild. The issue arises from default permission settings rather than a flaw in authentication mechanisms or code execution paths, making it primarily a confidentiality concern. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation may require manual permission adjustments or awaiting vendor updates. The vulnerability affects multiple Liferay Portal and DXP versions, including some still in active support, emphasizing the need for immediate attention by administrators using these platforms.

For European organizations, particularly those relying on Liferay Portal or DXP for their intranet, extranet, or public-facing websites, this vulnerability poses a moderate confidentiality risk. Unauthorized access to web content templates can reveal internal content design and business logic, potentially exposing sensitive operational details or intellectual property. This exposure could aid attackers in crafting more sophisticated phishing campaigns or exploiting other vulnerabilities by understanding the portal's content structure. While the vulnerability does not allow direct content modification or system compromise, the information disclosure can undermine trust and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR if sensitive information is indirectly exposed. Organizations in sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that use Liferay for content management may face reputational damage and increased risk of targeted attacks. The ease of exploitation—requiring no authentication or user interaction—means that automated scanning and reconnaissance by attackers are feasible, increasing the likelihood of exploitation if unmitigated. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and the medium severity rating suggest the threat is currently moderate but warrants proactive measures.

To mitigate CVE-2024-25605, European organizations should take the following specific actions beyond generic patching advice: 1) Immediately audit and review the permission settings on the Journal module's web content templates, ensuring that guest or unauthenticated users do not have view permissions unless explicitly required. 2) Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) policies to limit template visibility to authenticated and authorized users only. 3) If a vendor patch or fix pack is available, prioritize its deployment in test environments followed by production, ensuring compatibility and stability. 4) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) to monitor and restrict unusual API calls or UI requests targeting template resources, potentially blocking unauthorized access attempts. 5) Conduct internal penetration testing and vulnerability scans focusing on Liferay Portal instances to detect and remediate permission misconfigurations. 6) Educate content administrators and developers about secure default configurations and the risks of exposing templates to unauthenticated users. 7) Monitor logs for unusual access patterns to web content templates, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 8) Consider isolating or segmenting Liferay Portal instances that handle sensitive content to reduce exposure risk. These targeted steps will help reduce the attack surface and protect sensitive template information from unauthorized disclosure.