CVE-2024-4996 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Asseco Business Solutions S.A.'s Wapro ERP Desktop software versions prior to 8.90.0. The root cause is the use of a hard-coded password embedded in the database administrator account created during the ERP installation process. This password is uniform across all installations, which means an attacker can leverage this knowledge to gain unauthorized access to the database without any authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-259 (Use of Hard-coded Password) and CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials). The CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3 reflects the vulnerability's high severity, with an attack vector that is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and no authentication (AU:Y). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as attackers can retrieve sensitive embedded data and potentially manipulate or disrupt ERP operations. Wapro ERP is widely used in business environments for enterprise resource planning, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it exposes critical business data and processes. Although no active exploits have been reported yet, the uniform password and lack of required authentication make exploitation straightforward for attackers scanning for vulnerable systems. The vulnerability affects all versions before 8.90.0, and no patches or updates are linked in the provided data, but upgrading to the fixed version is implied as the primary remediation. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2024 and published in December 2024, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. Given the vendor’s strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe, especially Poland, the threat is regionally significant. Organizations using Wapro ERP Desktop should prioritize immediate mitigation to prevent data breaches and operational impact.

The impact of CVE-2024-4996 on European organizations can be severe due to the critical role ERP systems play in managing business operations, financial data, and supply chains. Exploitation allows attackers to access sensitive embedded data stored in the database, potentially exposing confidential business information, customer data, and intellectual property. Unauthorized access could also lead to data manipulation, disrupting business processes and causing financial losses. The vulnerability’s ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the risk of widespread attacks, including automated scanning and exploitation by cybercriminals or state-sponsored actors. For European companies, this could result in regulatory compliance violations under GDPR due to data breaches, leading to heavy fines and reputational damage. Additionally, disruption of ERP services can impact operational continuity, affecting production, logistics, and customer service. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the critical nature of the vulnerability demands urgent attention. Organizations in sectors heavily reliant on Wapro ERP, such as manufacturing, retail, and services, are particularly vulnerable to operational and financial impacts.

1. Immediately upgrade Wapro ERP Desktop installations to version 8.90.0 or later, where the hard-coded password issue is resolved. 2. If upgrading is not immediately possible, change the hard-coded database administrator password to a unique, strong password to prevent unauthorized access. 3. Restrict network access to the database server by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules, allowing only trusted hosts and management systems to connect. 4. Monitor network traffic and logs for unusual access patterns or unauthorized connection attempts to the ERP database. 5. Conduct a thorough audit of ERP system access and data integrity to detect any signs of compromise. 6. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability and ensure rapid incident response capabilities are in place. 7. Coordinate with Asseco Business Solutions for official patches, updates, and security advisories. 8. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible for administrative access to ERP systems to add an additional security layer. 9. Regularly back up ERP data and verify backup integrity to enable recovery in case of data manipulation or ransomware attacks. 10. Engage with cybersecurity threat intelligence sources to stay informed about any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability.