WSO2 API Manager: Missing Authorization
CVE-2026-4052 is a critical-severity missing authorization vulnerability in WSO2 API Manager from WSO2, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected WSO2 API Manager versions: 4.1.0; 4.2.0; 4.3.0, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update WSO2 Identity Server Key Manager Connector (apim-km-wso2is) to 1.8.8 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on security.docs.wso2.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSO2 | WSO2 API Manager | 4.1.0; 4.2.0; 4.3.0; 4.4.0; 4.5.0; 4.6.0 | Not stated |
| WSO2 | WSO2 API Control Plane | 4.5.0; 4.6.0 | Not stated |
| WSO2 | WSO2 Identity Server Key Manager Connector (apim-km-wso2is) | before 1.8.8 | 1.8.8 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
This issue only impacts deployments where WSO2 Identity Server is configured as a Resident Key Manager with database sharing. In such environments, a self-registered user may gain access to the System REST APIs of WSO2 API Manager by obtaining a token from the WSO2 Identity Server token endpoint.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authorization
The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Divide the product into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries. Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
- Ensure that access control checks are performed related to the business logic. These checks may be different than the access control checks that are applied to more generic resources such as files, connections, processes, memory, and database records. For example, a database may restrict access for medical records to a specific database user, but each record might only be intended to be accessible to the patient and the patient's doctor.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using authorization frameworks such as the JAAS Authorization Framework and the OWASP ESAPI Access Control feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in WSO2 API Manager
- 8.7 High severity
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Missing Authorization vulnerabilities
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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