CVE-2026-22788 identifies a critical security flaw in SMEWebify's WebErpMesv2, a web-based resource management and manufacturing execution system widely used in industrial environments. Versions prior to 1.19 expose multiple sensitive API endpoints without any authentication middleware, violating CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function). This flaw enables unauthenticated remote attackers to retrieve sensitive business data, including company details, quotes, orders, tasks, and whiteboards, which are integral to operational workflows. Furthermore, attackers gain limited write access, allowing them to create new company records and fully manipulate collaboration whiteboards, potentially disrupting business processes and collaboration. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without any user interaction or privileges, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.2 reflects high severity due to the high confidentiality impact and moderate integrity impact, with no impact on availability. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's nature and exposed data make it a prime target for attackers aiming to gather intelligence or sabotage operations. The vendor addressed the issue in version 1.19 by implementing proper authentication controls on all sensitive API endpoints.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive business data managed by WebErpMesv2. Unauthorized disclosure of company information, quotes, orders, and tasks can lead to competitive intelligence leaks, financial losses, and reputational damage. The ability to manipulate collaboration whiteboards and create company records may disrupt internal workflows, cause misinformation, and potentially facilitate further attacks such as social engineering or fraud. Industrial and manufacturing sectors relying on WebErpMesv2 for operational management are particularly at risk, as compromised data integrity can affect production planning and execution. Given the remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit, attackers can operate stealthily without detection, increasing the risk of prolonged unauthorized access. The impact is exacerbated in highly regulated European industries where data protection and operational continuity are critical, potentially leading to compliance violations under GDPR and other regulations.

European organizations should immediately upgrade WebErpMesv2 to version 1.19 or later, where the authentication issues are resolved. Until upgrades are applied, organizations should restrict network access to the WebErpMesv2 API endpoints using firewall rules or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted internal IP addresses only. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block unauthenticated access attempts to sensitive API paths. Conduct thorough audits of existing company records and collaboration whiteboards for unauthorized changes or suspicious activity. Enable detailed logging and monitoring of API access to detect anomalous patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, enforce strong identity and access management policies around WebErpMesv2 usage, including multi-factor authentication for legitimate users and regular review of user privileges. Engage with the vendor for any available patches or interim security advisories and participate in threat intelligence sharing communities to stay informed about emerging exploits.