CVE-2021-32086 in KACE Systems Deployment Appliance
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273. It uses a hardcoded symmetric encryption key to encrypt secrets in the MySQL databases. (This key is not unique for each installation.) An attacker that gains access to the MySQL server or a backup files can decrypt the secrets. Often, the decrypted secrets can be used to escalate privileges within KACE, or gain privileged access to unrelated systems or services.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
The Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance version 11.0.273 contains a critical cryptographic vulnerability stemming from the use of a hardcoded symmetric encryption key for database secret encryption. This flaw represents a fundamental failure in secure key management practices and directly violates established security principles outlined in cwe-327 and cwe-321 which address weak cryptographic algorithms and hardcoded cryptographic keys respectively. The implementation stores a single, universal encryption key across all installations rather than generating unique keys per deployment, creating a systematic vulnerability that affects every instance running this specific version.
The technical nature of this flaw allows an attacker who gains unauthorized access to the MySQL database server or obtains backup files containing the encrypted data to decrypt sensitive information using the publicly known hardcoded key. This vulnerability operates at the data layer where secrets such as passwords, API keys, and authentication tokens are stored in an encrypted format but remain vulnerable due to the predictable nature of the encryption mechanism. The attack surface extends beyond simple database access since many organizations store administrative credentials and service account details within these systems, making the impact significantly broader than initially apparent.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted in nature. Attackers can leverage decrypted secrets to escalate privileges within the KACE appliance itself, potentially gaining full administrative control over the deployment management system. Beyond internal escalation, the decrypted credentials often serve as entry points to other systems and services within the organization's network infrastructure since many security implementations rely on shared authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under technique id 0001 for credential access and technique id 0003 for privilege escalation, making it a particularly dangerous vector for attackers following established threat models.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including but not limited to restricting database server access through network segmentation, implementing robust backup file security measures, and conducting comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected KACE appliances. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to patched versions where the system generates unique encryption keys per installation and implements proper key management protocols according to industry standards such as those specified in nist 800-57 for cryptographic key management. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring and access controls to detect unauthorized attempts to extract or modify sensitive data from the mysql instances. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of avoiding hardcoded credentials and encryption keys in security implementations, aligning with the principle of least privilege and defense in depth strategies outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including nist csf and iso 27001 standards.