CVE-2025-31511 is a security vulnerability identified in AlertEnterprise Guardian version 4.1.14.2.2.1. The issue allows an attacker to bypass the manager approval process by manipulating the user ID parameter in the 'Request Building Access requestSubmit' API call. Essentially, the system fails to properly validate or authenticate the user ID during the access request submission, enabling unauthorized users to escalate privileges or gain access without the required managerial consent. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-290, which relates to authentication bypass weaknesses. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.3, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L) shows that the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a low extent. The vendor has addressed this vulnerability in multiple subsequent builds, recommending upgrades to versions equal to or greater than several specified build numbers starting from 4.1.12.2.1.19 onwards. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet. The vulnerability affects the core access control mechanism of AlertEnterprise Guardian, which is typically used for physical and logical access management in enterprise environments. By bypassing manager approval, attackers could potentially gain unauthorized physical access or manipulate access permissions, undermining organizational security policies and compliance requirements.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those relying on AlertEnterprise Guardian for managing physical building access and logical access controls. Unauthorized access could lead to physical security breaches, data theft, or sabotage of critical infrastructure. Confidentiality is impacted as unauthorized users might access sensitive areas or information. Integrity is compromised since attackers can alter access requests or permissions without detection. Availability could also be affected if attackers disrupt access control processes. The risk is heightened in sectors with stringent regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure operators within Europe. Non-compliance with GDPR and other regional security mandates could result in legal penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, since the vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely, the attack surface is broad, increasing the likelihood of exploitation if patches are not applied promptly.

European organizations using AlertEnterprise Guardian should immediately verify their current software build version and upgrade to one of the vendor-recommended patched versions listed (e.g., 4.1.12.2.1.19 or later). It is critical to implement strict API request validation and monitoring to detect anomalous user ID changes or unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit exposure of the access request API to trusted internal networks only. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious API calls can provide an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also conduct regular audits of access logs and approval workflows to identify any unauthorized bypass attempts. Integrating multi-factor authentication (MFA) for access request submissions and approvals, where feasible, can further reduce risk. Finally, security teams should stay alert for any emerging exploit reports and update incident response plans accordingly.