CVE-2021-20564 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) versions 1.4.0.0, 1.5.0.0, 1.5.0.1, 1.6.0.0, and 1.6.0.1 are vulnerable to a security issue that could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information due to a failure to properly enable HTTP Strict Transport Security.

Understanding CVE-2021-20564

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-20564 vulnerability affecting IBM Cloud Pak for Security.

What is CVE-2021-20564?

The vulnerability in IBM Cloud Pak for Security could enable an attacker to obtain sensitive information using man-in-the-middle techniques. The issue is identified by IBM X-Force ID: 199235.

The Impact of CVE-2021-20564

With a CVSS v3.0 base score of 5.9 (Medium severity), the vulnerability poses a risk of high confidentiality impact. Although the attack complexity is high, no privileges are required for exploitation. The temporal score is calculated at 5.2.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-20564

This section provides technical insights into the CVE-2021-20564 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The security flaw arises from the failure to enable HTTP Strict Transport Security properly, potentially allowing a remote attacker to intercept sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

IBM Cloud Pak for Security versions 1.4.0.0, 1.5.0.0, 1.5.0.1, 1.6.0.0, and 1.6.0.1 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting sensitive information through man-in-the-middle tactics.

Mitigation and Prevention

In light of CVE-2021-20564, users of IBM Cloud Pak for Security are advised to take immediate action to secure their systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the official fix provided by IBM to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce strict network security measures and encryption protocols to prevent unauthorized access.
Regularly monitor and audit network traffic for any unusual activities.

Patching and Updates

Stay updated with security advisories from IBM and apply patches promptly to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.