CVE-2021-21998 in Carbon Black App Control
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2021
VMware Carbon Black App Control 8.0, 8.1, 8.5 prior to 8.5.8, and 8.6 prior to 8.6.2 has an authentication bypass. A malicious actor with network access to the VMware Carbon Black App Control management server might be able to obtain administrative access to the product without the need to authenticate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2021
VMware Carbon Black App Control represents a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-21998, affecting versions 8.0, 8.1, 8.5 prior to 8.5.8, and 8.6 prior to 8.6.2. This authentication bypass flaw fundamentally undermines the security posture of the application control platform, which is designed to enforce security policies and prevent unauthorized execution of applications within enterprise environments. The vulnerability resides in the management server component of the software, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate privileges without proper authentication mechanisms. This issue particularly impacts organizations relying on Carbon Black App Control for endpoint protection and application whitelisting, as it directly compromises the integrity of the access control system. The flaw allows attackers to bypass the standard authentication process and gain administrative privileges, effectively granting them complete control over the management server and its associated policies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper authentication handling within the management server's web interface, where the system fails to adequately validate user credentials before granting administrative access. This weakness creates a condition where authentication tokens or session management mechanisms can be manipulated or bypassed entirely, enabling unauthorized users to perform administrative functions such as modifying security policies, adding new rules, or accessing sensitive configuration data. The vulnerability manifests when network traffic is directed to the management server, allowing attackers to exploit the flaw through crafted requests that circumvent the normal authentication flow. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authentication mechanisms, specifically CWE-287 which deals with improper handling of authentication tokens and session management failures. The attack vector requires only network access to the management server, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security architecture of organizations using Carbon Black App Control. Once an attacker gains administrative access, they can modify application control policies to allow malicious software execution, disable security features, or create backdoors within the environment. This capability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the core security model of application control systems. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the entire security ecosystem, as attackers can manipulate the very controls designed to protect the organization from unauthorized applications. Organizations may experience significant data exposure, system compromise, and regulatory compliance violations when this vulnerability is exploited. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Carbon Black App Control serves as a primary defense mechanism against malware and unauthorized software execution, as the attacker can essentially neutralize the security controls entirely.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with the deployment of the vendor-provided patches for versions 8.5.8 and 8.6.2, which contain the necessary fixes for the authentication bypass issue. Network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to the management server, limiting the attack surface and preventing unauthorized network access. Access controls must be enhanced through the implementation of multi-factor authentication and strict network access controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel can reach the management interface. Security monitoring should be strengthened to detect anomalous access patterns or unauthorized administrative activities within the Carbon Black App Control environment. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred prior to patch deployment. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, requiring organizations to implement both preventive measures and detection capabilities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that similar issues do not emerge in other components of the security infrastructure, maintaining overall organizational security posture against evolving threat landscapes.