CVE-2025-13003 is an authorization bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting AxOnboard software versions from 3.2.0 up to but not including 3.3.0, developed by Aksis Computer Services and Consulting Inc. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate or restrict user-controlled keys used as trusted identifiers during authorization processes. This flaw allows an attacker with low privileges (requiring some level of authentication) to manipulate these keys to bypass authorization controls, thereby escalating their privileges within the system. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without user interaction and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.6, indicating high severity. The impact primarily affects the integrity of the system, allowing unauthorized actions or modifications, with some confidentiality impact and limited availability impact. No public exploits have been reported yet, and no patches are currently linked, suggesting organizations must be vigilant and prepare for remediation. This vulnerability is particularly critical in environments where AxOnboard is used to manage onboarding workflows, identity verification, or access provisioning, as unauthorized privilege escalation can lead to broader compromise of enterprise systems.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-13003 can be significant, especially for those relying on AxOnboard for identity management and onboarding processes. Exploitation could allow attackers to bypass authorization controls, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of user roles, or manipulation of onboarding workflows. This threatens the integrity of organizational data and processes and could indirectly affect confidentiality if unauthorized users gain access to protected information. Availability impact is limited but possible if attackers disrupt onboarding services. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that depend on secure identity management are particularly vulnerable. The breach of trust in identity verification mechanisms could also lead to compliance violations under GDPR and other European data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial repercussions. The lack of known exploits provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score demands urgent attention.

1. Immediately audit and restrict access to AxOnboard instances running affected versions (3.2.0 before 3.3.0), limiting exposure to trusted users only. 2. Implement strict monitoring and logging of authorization attempts, focusing on anomalies involving user-controlled keys or unexpected privilege escalations. 3. Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with access to AxOnboard to reduce risk from compromised credentials. 4. Prepare for rapid deployment of patches once released by Aksis Computer Services and Consulting Inc., including testing in staging environments to ensure stability. 5. Review and harden the configuration of AxOnboard, disabling any unnecessary features that rely on user-controlled keys or identifiers. 6. Conduct internal penetration testing and code review focusing on authorization logic to identify any additional weaknesses. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of this vulnerability and encourage vigilance against suspicious activity. 8. Consider network segmentation to isolate AxOnboard servers from broader enterprise networks to limit lateral movement in case of exploitation.