Unauthenticated Workflow Rule Execution via DWR Request Chaining

CVE-2026-107186 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability affecting Direct Web Remoting (DWR) implementations. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit the way the application processes multiple method calls within a single DWR request. By crafting a request that specifies 'isPasswordUppercase' as the initial call method followed by a second, unauthorized method intended for workflow rule execution, the attacker can force the backend to perform administrative actions. This flaw allows for unauthorized workflow execution without requiring valid credentials. Because this manipulation occurs at the application request level, it bypasses standard session validation logic. The impact is significant as it provides a pathway for unauthenticated remote code execution or business logic manipulation, depending on the capabilities of the accessible workflow rules.

Attack Chain

1. Attacker identifies an internet-facing endpoint utilizing the DWR framework for AJAX remoting.
2. Attacker prepares a DWR-formatted HTTP POST request targeting the application remoting gateway.
3. Attacker crafts a batch request containing multiple call methods.
4. The first method is set to 'isPasswordUppercase', which the application processes as an unauthenticated or public method.
5. The second call method is set to an administrative workflow rule execution function.
6. The backend application fails to validate authentication status for the subsequent chained method call.
7. The application executes the requested workflow rule with the context of the internal system.
8. Attacker achieves unauthorized execution of business logic or administrative functions.

Impact

Successful exploitation allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary workflow rules. This can lead to unauthorized modification of business data, elevation of privileges, or the execution of system-level commands, depending on the configured workflow rules. The impact is assessed as high given the potential for complete compromise of application integrity.

Recommendation

1. Audit web server and application logs for DWR requests containing chained method calls.
2. Implement strict input validation on all DWR gateways to ensure that chained calls are authenticated per-method, rather than inheriting authentication context from a previous call.
3. Restrict access to administrative or sensitive workflow rule execution endpoints to ensure they are not accessible via standard remoting gateways.