CVE-2021-20439 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.0 are affected by a vulnerability that allows storing user credentials in plain text, making them accessible to unauthorized users.

Understanding CVE-2021-20439

This CVE refers to a security issue in IBM products that impacts user credential security.

What is CVE-2021-20439?

The vulnerability in IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.0 allows unauthorized users to read user credentials stored in plain text.

The Impact of CVE-2021-20439

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high severity, with a CVSS base score of 7.5. It poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of user information stored within these products.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-20439

The technical details of the CVE-2021-20439 vulnerability outline the following:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows user credentials to be stored in plain text, compromising user security.

Affected Systems and Versions

IBM Security Access Manager version 9.0
IBM Security Verify Access Docker version 10.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users can exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive user credentials stored in plain text.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2021-20439 vulnerability, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update IBM Security Access Manager to a secure version that addresses the plaintext storage issue.
Implement additional access controls to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Encrypt user credentials to prevent them from being stored in plain text.
Regularly review and update security policies to address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Install official fixes and updates provided by IBM to secure the affected versions of IBM Security Access Manager and IBM Security Verify Access Docker.