CVE-2026-115739 in DLP on-prem extensions
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2026
Hard-coded Cryptographic Key vulnerability exists in the DLP on-prem extensions version 11.13.1 and earlier allows a remote attacker to decrypt credentials and evidence files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2026
The presence of hard-coded cryptographic keys within software components represents a critical failure in security architecture, fundamentally undermining the confidentiality guarantees that encryption is designed to provide. In the specific case involving DLP on-prem extensions version 11.13.1 and earlier, this vulnerability manifests as static secret values embedded directly into the application code or configuration files rather than being dynamically generated or securely stored using a dedicated key management system. This architectural flaw means that the cryptographic keys required to decrypt sensitive data are not unique per deployment nor protected by access controls, but are instead publicly available within the software distribution itself. Consequently, any individual with read access to the binary or source code can extract these keys and apply them to intercepted or stolen encrypted payloads without needing authentication credentials for the target system.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials, which is widely recognized as one of the most severe categories of security weaknesses in software development. The core issue lies not merely in the use of encryption but in the improper management of the keys that govern it. When cryptographic material is hard-coded, it violates the principle of key separation and rotation. In a secure implementation, decryption keys should be derived from user-specific secrets or stored within hardware security modules such as HSMs or trusted platform modules to ensure they remain inaccessible to unauthorized parties. By embedding these keys statically, the developers have effectively removed the barrier that prevents attackers from performing offline decryption attacks against any data encrypted by this component.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on Data Loss Prevention solutions. Since DLP systems are specifically designed to monitor, detect, and block sensitive data exfiltration, they inherently handle highly confidential information including intellectual property, personally identifiable information, and financial records. The ability for a remote attacker to decrypt credentials and evidence files means that the very mechanism intended to protect this data becomes a liability. Attackers can intercept network traffic or access stored logs containing encrypted artifacts and immediately render them readable using the hard-coded keys. This effectively nullifies the confidentiality protections provided by the DLP tool, allowing adversaries to harvest sensitive content without triggering alerts associated with unauthorized decryption attempts, as no brute-force effort is required.
This vulnerability also facilitates broader attack vectors within an enterprise environment. Decrypted credentials can be used for lateral movement across network segments, while decrypted evidence files may reveal internal security policies, user behaviors, and data classification schemas that attackers can leverage to refine their intrusion strategies. The exposure of these details allows adversaries to tailor subsequent attacks to bypass other defensive controls more effectively. Furthermore, because the vulnerability exists in versions 11.13.1 and earlier, any organization running legacy or unpatched instances is exposed to continuous risk until remediation occurs.
To mitigate this issue, immediate action must be taken by upgrading to a patched version of the DLP on-prem extensions where hard-coded keys have been replaced with dynamic key generation mechanisms or integrated secure storage solutions such as HashiCorp Vault, AWS KMS, or Azure Key Vault. Organizations should also audit their current deployments to identify any instances running vulnerable versions and prioritize patching based on risk exposure. In addition to software updates, it is advisable to rotate all previously encrypted data using new keys generated through proper key management practices. Security teams should implement strict access controls over configuration files and binaries to prevent unauthorized extraction of secrets in the interim period before patches are applied. Regular security code reviews focusing on cryptographic implementation details can help identify similar weaknesses early in the development lifecycle, ensuring that future releases adhere to industry standards for secure cryptography as defined by NIST guidelines and OWASP best practices.