CVE-2025-52026 identifies a critical information disclosure vulnerability in the Aptsys gemscms backend platform. The vulnerability resides in the /srvs/membersrv/getCashiers endpoint, which is accessible without authentication and returns a list of cashier accounts. The exposed data includes sensitive information such as names, email addresses, usernames, and passwords hashed using MD5. MD5 is a deprecated cryptographic hash function known for its vulnerabilities to collision attacks and rapid hash reversal using publicly available rainbow tables and cracking tools. Because the endpoint is unauthenticated, any remote attacker can query it to retrieve the entire cashier account list. By reversing the MD5 hashes, attackers can recover plaintext passwords, enabling them to impersonate cashiers or administrators. This unauthorized access can lead to manipulation of point-of-sale (POS) operations, fraudulent transactions, theft of sensitive customer data, and compromise of backend administrative functions. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Aptsys gemscms platform up to the publication date, with no patch currently available. Although no active exploitation has been reported, the presence of weak password hashing combined with an open endpoint makes this a high-risk vulnerability. The lack of authentication and the sensitive nature of the data exposed significantly increase the threat level. Organizations using this platform must urgently address this issue to prevent potential breaches and operational disruptions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-52026 can be severe. Retailers, hospitality businesses, and any entities using the Aptsys gemscms platform for POS or backend management risk exposure of cashier credentials. Attackers gaining unauthorized access can perform fraudulent transactions, manipulate sales data, or access sensitive customer information, leading to financial losses and reputational damage. The compromise of backend functions could also allow attackers to escalate privileges, disrupt business operations, or deploy further malware. Given the unauthenticated nature of the vulnerability, attackers can exploit it remotely without insider access or user interaction, increasing the likelihood of widespread abuse. Additionally, GDPR and other European data protection regulations impose strict requirements on protecting personal data, including employee and customer information. A breach resulting from this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties and legal consequences. The operational disruption in critical retail and hospitality sectors could also have broader economic impacts, especially in countries with large consumer markets.

To mitigate CVE-2025-52026, organizations should immediately restrict access to the /srvs/membersrv/getCashiers endpoint by implementing network-level controls such as firewall rules or VPN requirements to limit exposure to trusted internal users only. Application-level authentication and authorization must be enforced on this endpoint to prevent unauthenticated access. Password storage mechanisms should be upgraded from MD5 to a modern, secure hashing algorithm such as bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 with appropriate salting and iteration counts to prevent hash reversal. Organizations should conduct a thorough audit of all cashier accounts and enforce password resets to invalidate compromised credentials. Monitoring and alerting should be enhanced to detect unusual login patterns or access attempts to sensitive backend functions. If possible, apply any vendor patches or updates once available. Additionally, organizations should review their incident response plans to prepare for potential exploitation and data breach scenarios. Employee training on credential security and phishing risks can further reduce the likelihood of credential misuse.