CVE-2024-48533 is a vulnerability identified in the Forgot your Login? feature of eSoft Planner version 3.24.08271-USA. The flaw arises from a discrepancy in the system's responses when users submit valid versus invalid email addresses during the login recovery process. Specifically, the application returns distinguishable feedback that allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to enumerate which email accounts are registered in the system. This type of user enumeration vulnerability falls under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions) because the system inadvertently reveals sensitive information through its response behavior. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality only (C:L), with no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, making it easier to exploit remotely. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild and no patches have been released at the time of publication, the vulnerability poses a risk of information disclosure that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks such as phishing, social engineering, or brute force attempts. The lack of patch availability necessitates interim mitigations and monitoring to reduce risk.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-48533 is the exposure of valid user email addresses through the Forgot your Login? module, compromising the confidentiality of user information. This can facilitate targeted phishing campaigns, social engineering attacks, and credential stuffing attempts against enumerated accounts. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the information disclosure can serve as a stepping stone for more severe attacks. Organizations using the affected eSoft Planner version may experience increased risk of account compromise and reputational damage if attackers leverage enumerated emails for further exploitation. The ease of remote exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the threat surface. Additionally, organizations in sectors relying heavily on eSoft Planner for planning and scheduling may face operational risks if attackers use enumerated data to gain unauthorized access or disrupt services indirectly.

To mitigate CVE-2024-48533, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Modify the Forgot your Login? module to provide uniform responses regardless of whether the submitted email address is valid or invalid, thereby preventing attackers from distinguishing valid accounts. 2) Implement rate limiting and IP throttling on the login recovery endpoint to reduce the feasibility of automated enumeration attacks. 3) Monitor logs for unusual patterns of password reset or login recovery requests that may indicate enumeration attempts. 4) Educate users about phishing risks and encourage the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the impact of compromised credentials. 5) Engage with the vendor to obtain patches or updates as soon as they become available. 6) Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block enumeration behaviors targeting the affected module. 7) Review and tighten access controls and authentication mechanisms around user account management features. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice and address the specific nature of this vulnerability.