CVE-2021-20426 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-20426 affecting IBM Security Guardium 11.2. Learn about the vulnerability, its technical details, and mitigation steps to secure your systems.
IBM Security Guardium 11.2 contains hard-coded credentials, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Understanding CVE-2021-20426
This vulnerability was made public on May 21, 2021, by IBM affecting Security Guardium version 11.2.
What is CVE-2021-20426?
CVE-2021-20426 is a vulnerability in IBM Security Guardium 11.2 where hard-coded credentials like passwords or cryptographic keys are utilized for authentication, communication, and data encryption.
The Impact of CVE-2021-20426
With a CVSS base score of 5.9 (Medium Severity), this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, potentially resulting in data leaks and security breaches.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-20426
This vulnerability has a CVSSv3 base score of 5.9 with high attack complexity and network vector. The exploitation code maturity is unproven.
Vulnerability Description
IBM Security Guardium 11.2 utilizes hard-coded credentials, posing a significant security risk due to potential unauthorized access and data exposure.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects IBM Security Guardium version 11.2.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the hard-coded credentials present in the Security Guardium software to gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-20426, immediate actions should be taken along with the implementation of long-term security strategies.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Ensure that Security Guardium 11.2 is updated with the official fix from IBM.
- Change all default or hard-coded credentials to strong and unique passwords.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch Security Guardium to the latest version.
- Implement proper access controls and monitor for any unauthorized access attempts.
Patching and Updates
IBM has released an official fix for Security Guardium 11.2 containing the hard-coded credentials vulnerability.