CVE-2025-43798 is a vulnerability identified in Liferay DXP versions 7.3.10, 7.4.13, 2023.Q3.1, and 2023.Q4.0. The issue stems from a missing critical step in the authentication process related to the handling of time-based one-time passwords (TOTP). Specifically, the vulnerability allows a TOTP to be reused multiple times within its validity period, which is contrary to the intended one-time use design of TOTP tokens. This flaw means that if an attacker gains access to a user's valid TOTP, they can authenticate as that user multiple times without needing to generate new tokens or credentials. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-304, which relates to missing critical steps in authentication, indicating a fundamental flaw in the verification logic. The CVSS 4.0 score assigned is 2.1 (low severity), reflecting factors such as the requirement for user interaction and high attack complexity. The attack vector is network-based with no privileges required, but the attacker must have access to a valid TOTP and the user must interact (e.g., initiate login). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user accounts by enabling unauthorized access through replay of valid authentication tokens, but it does not affect availability or require privilege escalation. The flaw is significant because TOTP is widely used as a second factor in multi-factor authentication (MFA), and its reuse undermines the security guarantees of MFA implementations in Liferay DXP environments.

For European organizations using Liferay DXP, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized account access if an attacker can obtain a valid TOTP token. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized actions within the platform, and potential lateral movement if the compromised accounts have elevated privileges. Since Liferay DXP is often used for enterprise portals, intranets, and customer-facing applications, exploitation could expose sensitive corporate data or customer information. The risk is somewhat mitigated by the low CVSS score, which reflects the difficulty of exploitation and the need for user interaction. However, organizations with high-value targets or sensitive data hosted on Liferay platforms should consider this vulnerability seriously. The impact is particularly relevant in sectors with strict data protection regulations such as GDPR, where unauthorized access incidents can lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, the reuse of TOTP tokens could undermine trust in MFA security, potentially leading to broader security concerns if attackers leverage this flaw to bypass authentication controls.

Organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Monitor and restrict access to TOTP secrets and tokens, ensuring they are stored and transmitted securely to prevent interception or theft. 2) Enforce strict session management policies to detect and block multiple authentications using the same TOTP within its validity window. 3) Implement additional anomaly detection mechanisms to flag repeated use of identical TOTP codes or unusual login patterns. 4) Where possible, upgrade to patched versions of Liferay DXP once available, or apply vendor-provided workarounds to enforce single-use TOTP validation. 5) Educate users on the importance of safeguarding their authentication tokens and promptly reporting suspicious activity. 6) Consider integrating alternative or additional MFA methods that do not rely solely on TOTP, such as push-based authentication or hardware tokens with replay protection. 7) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authentication mechanisms to identify and remediate similar issues proactively.