[CVE-2025-52024] Unauthenticated access to exposed developer web service panels in Aptsys POS backend
Summary
A security misconfiguration vulnerability was identified in Aptsys’ POS Platform Web Services module, part of the gemscms backend platform used by multiple F&B businesses.
Developer-oriented test interfaces (Web Services and POS Web Services panels) are exposed publicly over HTTP(S) without authentication, allowing remote attackers to directly interact with backend APIs that control production business logic.
CVE: CVE-2025-52024 (Reserved - pending public publication)
This public advisory serves as the official reference for CVE publication.
Technical exploitation details, screenshots, and URLs are intentionally withheld to reduce risk to end users.
Background & Discovery
The issue was discovered during normal use of a mobile client connected to the Aptsys backend in April–May 2025.
The backend web services testing panels, designed for internal development and QA, were found accessible from the public internet on production servers.
No authentication or access control was enforced, allowing any external party to browse and execute internal APIs directly from a web browser.
Multiple attempts to responsibly disclose the issue to the vendor were made through multiple channels between May-Nov 2025, but no remediation or formal acknowledgment was received.
Affected Product(s)
- Vendor: Aptsys
- Product: Aptsys gemscms POS Platform (backend) — used by multiple F&B clients
- Component: Web Services and POS Web Services modules (developer testing panels)
- Confirmed Affected: Production environment verified in May 2025
- Versions: Unknown (likely affects multiple active backend builds)
Vulnerability Details (Redacted)
The Aptsys gemscms backend exposes internal Web Services testing panels intended for developer use.
These panels are reachable via predictable URL paths and present an HTML interface listing dozens of backend API endpoints.
Each endpoint includes a form that allows direct invocation of the associated backend function without authentication or authorization checks.
Sensitive operations include:
- Account and credit adjustment APIs
- POS transaction and order management functions
- Internal user and restaurant data retrieval endpoints
Since these tools are deployed in production environments, an unauthenticated remote attacker can use them to trigger real backend actions, view sensitive data, or chain the exposure into more severe attacks (e.g., IDOR, SSRF, or business logic abuse).
Note: Specific URLs, HTML structure, and example responses are intentionally omitted from this public advisory to prevent weaponization.
Exploitation (High-Level)
- Attack vector: Remote (browser or HTTP client)
- Authentication required: None
- Complexity: Low
An attacker who knows or guesses the public web services URL can access a developer/debug interface listing all backend APIs.
Each API form can be executed directly, calling live production endpoints without any access control or CSRF protection.
Impact
- Unauthorized access to developer test panels and backend logic
- Direct execution of backend API functions in production
- Unauthorized credit adjustments, POS operations, or user account actions
- Discovery of undocumented and internal APIs
- Possible privilege escalation and data exposure across multiple client systems
Mitigation & Recommendations
For Operators / Administrators
- Immediately restrict public access to all related development/testing panels.
- Disable or remove web service test interfaces in production deployments.
- Implement authentication and role-based access control (RBAC) for any administrative or test panels.
- Audit production servers for similar exposed endpoints.
- Enforce strict separation between development and production environments.
- Review logs for unauthorized test panel access or suspicious API calls.
For Developers / Vendor
- Remove developer/debug panels from all production builds.
- Require authentication and CSRF protection for any internal testing interfaces.
- Conduct a full security audit of all web-accessible paths.
- Ensure build pipelines strip non-production components before deployment.
- Provide updated, secured backend builds to all customers.
Timeline
- May 2025: Vulnerability discovered and confirmed in production.
- May–Nov 2025: Multiple disclosure attempts made to Aptsys; no remediation confirmed.
- Jul 2025: CVE-2025-52024 reserved.
- Nov 2025: Public disclosure published (this advisory).
Status
- Vendor response: No acknowledgment or fix confirmed as of November 2025.
- CVE status: RESERVED → Pending PUBLIC upon MITRE confirmation.
- Technical details: Redacted; available under NDA/PGP for vendor or CERT coordination.
Withheld Information
To reduce exploitation risk, the following details are intentionally withheld:
- Exact URL paths and parameter names
- Live screenshots or HTML source code of exposed panels
- Proof-of-concept HTTP requests
- Identifying customer domain names or deployment details
Operators of Aptsys gemscms deployments should treat this as a high-severity issue and apply mitigations immediately. Vendors and CERT teams may contact the reporter for full technical details.