Kentico Xperience 13 CMS Insecure Authentication Scanner

Kentico Xperience 13 CMS is a comprehensive content management system designed to manage and optimize digital experiences. It is predominantly used by businesses and organizations to manage their websites, intranets, and online marketing efforts. The CMS is highly flexible, allowing for the creation of custom modules and integrations to meet specific needs. Organizations choose Kentico for its robust feature set that includes content management, online marketing, and commerce functionalities. The system is employed by web developers and marketing professionals who value its extensive customization and scalability. It is especially popular among enterprise-level sites requiring complex integrations and extensive control over their digital presence.

The vulnerability in question relates to the authentication process within Kentico Xperience 13 CMS. Improper implementation allows unauthorized access to staging functionalities due to inadequate authentication measures. This flaw can be exploited when the Staging Service is enabled with username/password authentication, potentially leading to misuse of the staging environment. Unauthorized users might bypass authentication protocols and access sensitive components of the CMS. This vulnerability exposes organizations to potential data leaks and unapproved modifications to digital assets. It is a critical concern for any digital platform where secure, isolated staging environments should be maintained to prevent propagation of unauthorized changes to live environments.

Technical details of this vulnerability reveal that it occurs when an attacker sends a specially crafted SOAP message to the service endpoint responsible for synchronization tasks. The endpoint '/CMSPages/Staging/SyncServer.asmx' is susceptible under the condition that staged services are not adequately secured. Exploiting this vulnerability requires crafting messages that trick the CMS into accepting unauthorized synchronization requests. This manipulation affects the staging functionality, enabling unauthorized actions within the environment. It is imperative that organizations securing their CMS configurations pay attention to authentication mechanisms, especially when enabling staging services that can impact live content environments.

When this vulnerability is exploited, it can lead to unauthorized actions that could have immediate and widespread impacts across web operations. Attackers gaining unauthorized access can manipulate staging environments, potentially pushing malicious updates or altering content unbeknownst to management. This can result in defacement, unauthorized data exposure or loss, and substantial integrity issues where the website's credibility is damaged. The reputational damage and associated recovery costs can be considerable if prompt detective and remedial actions are not implemented.

REFERENCES

• https://github.com/watchtowrlabs/kentico-xperience13-AuthBypass-wt-2025-0006