CVE-2021-20418 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2021
IBM Security Guardium 11.2 does not require that users should have strong passwords by default, which makes it easier for attackers to compromise user accounts. IBM X-Force ID: 196279.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
IBM Security Guardium version 11.2 contains a critical configuration flaw that fails to enforce strong password requirements by default, creating a significant security vulnerability that directly impacts user account integrity and system confidentiality. This weakness resides in the default password policy implementation where the system does not mandate minimum complexity requirements such as minimum length, character variety, or resistance to common password cracking techniques. The vulnerability stems from insufficient default security configurations that allow weak passwords to be accepted during user account creation or password changes without proper validation mechanisms. According to the CWE catalog, this represents a weakness categorized under CWE-521 Weak Password Requirements, which specifically addresses inadequate password quality controls that make systems susceptible to credential compromise. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account access, as it creates persistent attack vectors that can be exploited through various methods including brute force attacks, credential stuffing, and password spraying techniques that target the weak default configurations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with multiple ATT&CK framework techniques including T1110.003 Credential Stuffing and T1110.001 Brute Force, as attackers can systematically test weak passwords against user accounts without encountering strong resistance from the system's default security controls. The lack of enforced password complexity requirements creates an environment where attackers can easily compromise user accounts through automated tools that test common password patterns, dictionary words, and simple variations. This vulnerability particularly affects the authentication and access control components of IBM Security Guardium, weakening the overall security posture of the system and potentially exposing sensitive data that the security tool is designed to protect. The default configuration essentially provides attackers with a low-effort pathway to gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts, which could lead to complete system compromise and data breaches. Organizations using this software without proper remediation face elevated risk of unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and potential data exfiltration through compromised user accounts that lack basic password strength enforcement.
Organizations should immediately implement remediation measures to address this vulnerability by configuring explicit password policies that enforce strong authentication requirements including minimum length requirements of at least 12 characters, mandatory use of uppercase and lowercase letters, numeric values, and special characters. The mitigation strategy should include disabling default weak password configurations and implementing comprehensive password quality controls that align with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-63B or ISO/IEC 27001 security requirements. System administrators must ensure that password policies are enforced through proper configuration management and regular security audits to prevent unauthorized changes to the default weak configurations. Additional security controls should include account lockout mechanisms after failed authentication attempts, multi-factor authentication implementation, and regular monitoring of account access patterns for suspicious activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the need for organizations to regularly review and validate default security settings of all deployed software components to prevent similar weaknesses from persisting in production environments.