CVE-2021-38974 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record involves IBM's Security Key Lifecycle Manager being vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to specially crafted HTTP requests.

Understanding CVE-2021-38974

This section provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation of CVE-2021-38974.

What is CVE-2021-38974?

CVE-2021-38974 pertains to IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager versions 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1, where an authenticated user could trigger a denial of service using manipulated HTTP requests.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38974

The CVSS v3.0 base score for this vulnerability is 5.4 (Medium severity), with an attack complexity of LOW. The vulnerability could lead to a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38974

This section delves into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager versions 3.0 to 4.1 enables authenticated users to initiate denial of services through specifically crafted HTTP requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Security Key Lifecycle Manager
Vendor: IBM
Affected Versions: 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, 3.0.0.4, 3.0.1.5, 4.0.0.3, 4.1, 4.1.0.1, 4.1.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users sending malicious HTTP requests to the affected IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager versions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-38974.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager to a non-vulnerable version.
Monitor network traffic for indications of a denial of service attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Regularly apply security patches and updates to all software components.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Security Key Lifecycle Manager is regularly updated with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation.