CVE-2023-4501Network attack vector

User impersonation via ineffective LDAP password validation

Published Sep 12, 2023 · Updated Aug 4, 2026

Authentication bypass in OpenText COBOL products allows remote attackers to impersonate users through network-accessible interfaces. In affected Visual COBOL, COBOL Server, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Server LDAP configurations, authentication accepts an incorrect password and can also accept an invalid username. Exploitation requires an affected LDAP configuration and access to a product sign-on interface; successful authentication grants the accepted user identity.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in OpenText COBOL products allows remote attackers to impersonate users through network-accessible interfaces. In affected Visual COBOL, COBOL Server, Enterprise Developer, and Enterprise Server LDAP configurations, authentication accepts an incorrect password and can also accept an invalid username. Exploitation requires an affected LDAP configuration and access to a product sign-on interface; successful authentication grants the accepted user identity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4501
Published
Sep 12, 2023
Updated
Aug 4, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-305, CWE-287, CWE-253, CWE-358, CAPEC-115, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8OpenTextCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-305Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness
CWE-287Improper Authentication
CWE-253Incorrect Check of Function Return Value
CWE-358Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard
CAPEC-115Authentication Bypass
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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