CVE-2025-53938 is an authentication bypass vulnerability identified in the WeGIA web management application, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.4.5. WeGIA is an open-source platform primarily used by Portuguese-speaking charitable institutions for managing web-based resources. The vulnerability resides in the `/dao/verificar_recursos_cargo.php` endpoint, which is intended to restrict access to certain critical functions and sensitive information. Due to missing authentication controls (CWE-306), unauthenticated attackers can send crafted HTTP requests directly to this endpoint without requiring session cookies or authentication tokens. This flaw allows unauthorized users to bypass all authentication mechanisms and access protected functionalities and sensitive data that should otherwise be restricted. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and no authentication (AT:N), making exploitation relatively straightforward. The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality, integrity, or availability to a high degree (VC:L, VI:N, VA:N), but the ability to access sensitive information without authentication poses a significant risk to affected organizations. The issue was addressed in WeGIA version 3.4.5, which implements proper authentication checks on the vulnerable endpoint. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the simplicity of the attack vector suggests that exploitation could be automated once the vulnerability is publicly known.

For European organizations, especially charitable institutions or NGOs using WeGIA or similar localized management platforms, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive operational data, potentially including donor information, internal resource allocations, or other confidential details. Such data exposure can damage organizational reputation, violate data protection regulations like GDPR, and potentially facilitate further targeted attacks. Since WeGIA is focused on Portuguese language users, organizations in Portugal and other Lusophone communities within Europe may be more likely to deploy this software. The lack of authentication on critical functions increases the risk of data leakage and unauthorized manipulation of application workflows. While the vulnerability does not directly enable data modification or system takeover, the exposure of sensitive information alone can have serious compliance and privacy implications. Additionally, attackers could leverage the information gained to conduct social engineering or phishing campaigns against the organization’s stakeholders.

Organizations using WeGIA should immediately verify their application version and upgrade to version 3.4.5 or later, where the authentication bypass vulnerability is fixed. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, implement network-level access controls such as IP whitelisting or VPN requirements to restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint. Conduct thorough audits of web server logs to detect any suspicious unauthenticated access attempts to `/dao/verificar_recursos_cargo.php`. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block requests lacking valid authentication tokens targeting this endpoint. Additionally, review and harden authentication mechanisms across all critical application endpoints to ensure no other similar bypasses exist. Regularly train IT staff and developers on secure coding practices to prevent missing authentication issues. Finally, organizations should review their data exposure policies and ensure sensitive information is encrypted or otherwise protected in case of unauthorized access.