CVE-2021-35252 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Serv-U FTP Server by SolarWinds version 15.3.0 is affected by a common key vulnerability where a shared encryption key across all instances allows attackers to easily recover encrypted data to plaintext. This CVE has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (High severity) and falls under the problem type of CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials.

Understanding CVE-2021-35252

This section delves deeper into the details of CVE-2021-35252.

What is CVE-2021-35252?

The CVE-2021-35252 discloses a vulnerability in Serv-U FTP Server version 15.3.0 by SolarWinds that arises from a common encryption key used across all instances, leading to plaintext recovery of encrypted values by attackers.

The Impact of CVE-2021-35252

The exploitation of the shared encryption key in Serv-U FTP Server version 15.3.0 can result in a high confidentiality impact as attackers can easily decrypt sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-35252

This section elaborates on the technical aspects of CVE-2021-35252.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from the reuse of an encryption key across all instances of Serv-U FTP Server, enabling attackers to decrypt encrypted data easily.

Affected Systems and Versions

Serv-U FTP Server version 15.3.0 by SolarWinds is specifically impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the common encryption key to recover encrypted data in plaintext.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss the mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-35252.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to upgrade to the latest version of Serv-U FTP Server, specifically version 15.3.2, once it becomes generally available to mitigate the common key vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust encryption practices and ensuring unique encryption keys for each instance can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating and patching Serv-U FTP Server to the latest versions provided by SolarWinds is crucial to address known vulnerabilities like the common key issue.