Apache OFBiz Forced Browsing and Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (CVE-2024-45195) Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTApache OFBiz versions prior to 18.12.16
Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authorization checks to access internal business logic and sensitive data directly, potentially leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE).
Immediately upgrade Apache OFBiz to the official patched version 18.12.16 or higher.
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Upgrade Apache OFBiz to version 18.12.16 or later. Below are the commands to download, rebuild, and run the patched version using Gradle.
# 1. Download and extract the latest secure version
wget https://archive.apache.org/dist/ofbiz/apache-ofbiz-18.12.16.zip
unzip apache-ofbiz-18.12.16.zip
cd apache-ofbiz-18.12.16
# 2. Clean previous builds and load data
./gradlew cleanAll
./gradlew loadAll
# 3. Start the OFBiz service
./gradlew ofbiz2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, restrict access to the OFBiz controller endpoints using a reverse proxy (e.g., Nginx) or a Web Application Firewall (WAF).
# Nginx configuration to restrict access to the control path
server {
listen 80;
server_name ofbiz.internal.local;
# Restrict access to the control servlet to trusted internal IPs only
location /control/ {
allow 10.0.0.0/8;
allow 192.168.0.0/16;
deny all;
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8080;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
}
}3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Use the following commands to verify the running version of Apache OFBiz and inspect application logs for potential forced browsing attempts.
# 1. Check the current OFBiz release version
if [ -f 'release.xml' ]; then
grep -i 'version' release.xml
else
echo 'release.xml not found. Please check your OFBiz installation path.'
fi
# 2. Scan access logs for suspicious direct requests to the control servlet
grep -E '/control/[a-zA-Z0-9_]+' /var/log/ofbiz/*.log | grep -E ' 403 | 401 | 200 ' | head -n 50Block Exploits Instantly with Managed Virtual Patching Rules
Can't patch production immediately? Deploy managed WAF rules at the edge to intercept RCE, SQLi, and deserialization payloads before they hit your origin server.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2024-45195) is a Direct Request ('Forced Browsing') vulnerability (CWE-425) in the Apache OFBiz open-source ERP framework. The root cause lies in the Request Handler's failure to enforce proper authentication and authorization checks on specific URL paths and view rendering requests. Attackers can bypass security filters by directly requesting internal endpoints defined in the controller map without going through the standard authentication flow.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker exploits this vulnerability by manipulating the HTTP request URI path or combining specific parameters to bypass the authentication filtering layer. This allows direct access to administrative functions or internal data retrieval APIs that should require an active login session. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it bypasses previous incomplete patches for authentication bypass issues, allowing attackers to access internal Groovy scripting engines or servlets, potentially leading to full Remote Code Execution (RCE). It is actively exploited in the wild and listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
Apache OFBiz is widely used for managing critical enterprise operations such as Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Successful exploitation could lead to the exposure of highly sensitive business data, intellectual property, and customer records, or serve as an entry point for ransomware and lateral movement within the internal network. The EPSS score of 0.9998 highlights the extreme urgency of this threat.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Direct Request ('Forced Browsing') vulnerability in Apache OFBiz. This issue affects Apache OFBiz: before 18.12.16. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 18.12.16, which fixes the issue.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2024-45195)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2024-45195 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2024-45195 is rated CVSS 7.5 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 100.0%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2024-45195?
Primary impacted vendors include apache across ofbiz. Scope summary: All Apache OFBiz versions prior to 18.12.16
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2024-45195 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately upgrade Apache OFBiz to the official patched version 18.12.16 or higher. Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2024-45195
Instantly format this advisory into an executive CISO summary or engineering patch ticket.
🔗 Related Advisories in Similar Stack (apache)
View Category →Apache ActiveMQ Jolokia JMX-HTTP Bridge Remote Code Execution Vulnerability Advisory (CVE-2026-34197)
[Affected Scope] Apache ActiveMQ Classic versions prior to 5.19.4, and 6.0.0 through 6.2.3
Apache Tomcat EncryptInterceptor Bypass and Sensitive Data Exposure Vulnerability (CVE-2026-34486)
[Affected Scope] Apache Tomcat versions 11.0.20, 10.1.53, and 9.0.116 utilizing clustering with EncryptInterceptor enabled
Apache Tomcat EncryptInterceptor Padding Oracle Vulnerability (CVE-2026-29146) Security Advisory
[Affected Scope] Apache Tomcat deployments utilizing `EncryptInterceptor` with default configurations for cluster membership protection (11.0.0-M1 to 11.0.18, 10.0.0-M1 to 10.1.52, 9.0.13 to 9.0.115, 8.5.38 to 8.5.100, 7.0.100 to 7.0.109).
Apache MINA 3.0 JavaNativeMessageDecoder Deserialization Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2026-118636)
[Affected Scope] Inactive Apache MINA 3.0.0 branch and applications utilizing its codec module
Subscribe to Daily Vulnerability Briefings & KEV Alerts
Concise morning briefings for SecOps, DevSecOps, and SRE teams covering newly exploited CVEs and mitigation priorities.