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Security Access Manager CVE-2021-20439

HIGH
Insufficiently Protected Credentials (CWE-522)
2021-07-15 psirt@us.ibm.com
Authentication Bypass Docker IBM Security Verify Access Security Access Manager
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-522
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Credential protection in transit/storage
Impact

CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could obtain user credentials due to weak protection mechanisms by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 1.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by an unauthorized user. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability could allow attackers to obtain user credentials due to weak protection mechanisms.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Hash passwords with strong algorithms (bcrypt, argon2), encrypt credentials in transit and at rest, never log credentials.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Insufficiently Protected Credentials (CWE-522), which allows attackers to obtain user credentials due to weak protection mechanisms. IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by an unauthorized user. Affected products include: Ibm Security Access Manager, Ibm Security Verify Access.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by an unauthorized user.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.2%
Top 36% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low
NVD CVE.org EPSS

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 1.2%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +38
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication Bypass CRITICAL

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:ibm:security_access_manager:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:security_verify_access:10.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More in Security Access Manager

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CVE-2018-1722 CRITICAL
10.0 Aug 24

IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 9.0.4.0 and 9.0.5.0 could allow remote code execution when Advanced Access Control
CVE-2020-4499 CRITICAL
9.8 Oct 15

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0.7 and IBM Security Verify Access 10.0.0 could allow an unauthorized public Oauth client

CVE-2016-3028 CRITICAL
9.1 Nov 25

IBM Security Access Manager for Web 7.0 before IF2 and 8.0 before 8.0.1.4 IF3 and Security Access Manager 9.0 before 9.0
CVE-2019-4135 HIGH
8.8 Jun 25

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0.1 through 9.0.6 is affected by a security vulnerability that could allow authenticated u
CVE-2016-3025 HIGH
8.1 Nov 25

IBM Security Access Manager for Mobile 8.x before 8.0.1.4 IF3 and Security Access Manager 9.x before 9.0.1.0 IF5 do not

CVE-2018-1887 HIGH
7.8 Dec 13

IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 9.0.1.0, 9.0.2.0, 9.0.3.0, 9.0.4.0, and 9.0.5.0 contains hard-coded credentials, s
CVE-2019-4036 HIGH
7.5 Oct 25

IBM Security Access Manager Appliance could allow unauthenticated attacker to cause a denial of service in the reverse p
CVE-2018-1814 HIGH
7.5 Dec 13

IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 9.0.1.0, 9.0.2.0, 9.0.3.0, 9.0.4.0, and 9.0.5.0 uses weaker than expected cryptogr
CVE-2018-1850 HIGH
7.5 Oct 22

IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 9.0.3.1, 9.0.4.0 and 9.0.5.0 could allow unauthorized administration operations wh
CVE-2019-4145 HIGH
7.1 Jun 25

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0.1 through 9.0.6 could reveal highly sensitive in specialized conditions to a local user

CVE-2019-4153 MEDIUM
6.8 Jun 25

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0.1 through 9.0.6 could allow a remote attacker to conduct phishing attacks, using an open
CVE-2020-4461 MEDIUM
6.5 May 20

IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 9.0.7.1 could allow an authenticated user to bypass security by allowing id_token

Same weakness CWE-522 – Insufficiently Protected Credentials

View all
CVE-2017-9248 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2021-30116 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2024-44000 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2023-6421 HIGH POC
7.5
CVE-2017-8225 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2025-25570 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2017-17106 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2017-8837 CRITICAL POC
9.8

Same technique Authentication Bypass

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CVE-2015-3306 CRITICAL POC
10.0
CVE-2023-22515 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2012-4681 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2013-2465 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2011-3544 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2022-40684 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2025-61882 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2024-0012 CRITICAL POC
9.3

References

Advisories & patches
PATCH https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6471903 ADVISORY https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/196453

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