CVE-2026-21766 in Digital Experience
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2026
The default login portlet in HCL Digital Experience and Digital Experience Compose insufficiently protects credentials. Under certain very specific use cases and specific configurations, sensitive information may be written to web server logs. This only affects applications using the default login portlet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2026
The vulnerability described affects HCL Digital Experience and Digital Experience Compose platforms where the default login portlet fails to adequately protect authentication credentials during specific operational scenarios. This represents a critical security weakness that could potentially expose sensitive user information through web server log files when certain configurations are present. The flaw specifically targets the credential handling mechanisms within the default login component, which is fundamental to the platform's authentication architecture.
The technical implementation issue stems from insufficient sanitization and protection measures within the default login portlet's processing logic. When users submit authentication credentials through this component under particular configuration conditions, the system may inadvertently log sensitive data including usernames and passwords in plain text format within web server logs. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the portlet's code structure, creating a pathway for credential exposure that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential leakage, as it creates potential attack vectors for malicious actors who may gain access to server log files through various means including unauthorized system access, misconfigured file permissions, or network-based attacks. The specific use cases that trigger this behavior typically involve configurations where logging verbosity is set to capture detailed request information, combined with the default login portlet's handling of authentication parameters. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-532, which addresses "Information Exposure Through Log Data," and represents a direct violation of security best practices for credential protection.
Organizations utilizing HCL Digital Experience platforms must implement immediate mitigations including disabling or customizing the default login portlet to prevent credential logging, implementing proper log sanitization procedures, and ensuring that web server configurations do not capture sensitive authentication data. Security measures should also include regular log file monitoring for unusual patterns, implementation of access controls on log files, and consideration of alternative authentication mechanisms that do not rely on the vulnerable default component. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly innocuous default components can create significant security risks when integrated into larger systems without proper security hardening.
The risk assessment indicates this vulnerability should be prioritized as high severity due to its potential for credential compromise and the widespread use of HCL Digital Experience platforms in enterprise environments. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their configurations to identify any instances where the vulnerable default login portlet is active, and implement appropriate controls such as custom authentication portlets or enhanced logging sanitization processes. This scenario reflects common patterns identified in ATT&CK framework under T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1562 - Impair Defenses, where credential exposure through log files creates persistent security weaknesses that can be exploited by attackers.