External risk intelligence

Micro Focus Access Manager Information Leakage Vulnerability.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2021-22506

Certain versions of Micro Focus Access Manager have an information leakage vulnerability due to advance configuration. This matters because it could expose sensitive data. The realistic business risk involves potential unauthorized access to information, impacting data confidentiality.

5Halo Surface Signal

Microfocus Access Manager

before 5.0

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2021-22506

Micro Focus Access Manager is an identity and access management solution typically deployed as a public-facing gateway or identity portal to manage authentication traffic, making it designed for internet exposure in its normal role.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Certain versions of Micro Focus Access Manager are vulnerable to an information leakage flaw. This vulnerability arises from how the product handles advance configuration settings. The primary consequence of this flaw is the potential exposure of sensitive information.

  • Vulnerable: Micro Focus Access Manager
  • Flaw: Advance configuration exposes information
  • Impact: Information leakage

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit an exposed configuration in Micro Focus Access Manager to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This vulnerability arises from how the product handles SAML service provider redirection, specifically concerning the Assertion Consumer Service URL. Successful exploitation could lead to information leakage, impacting the confidentiality of data.

  • External network exposure.
  • Attacker sends a crafted request.
  • Information leakage occurs.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability presents a significant risk due to the potential for unauthorized information leakage. Attackers can exploit this without needing any special privileges, suggesting a low barrier to entry for exploitation. The nature of the information exposed could lead to further compromising of organizational data and systems. Given the potential impact, this issue warrants prompt attention.

  • Attackers require no special skills.
  • No access or conditions needed.
  • High business risk and urgency.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability could permit unauthorized access to sensitive information due to an advanced configuration flaw. Organizations should take immediate action to protect their systems and data.

  • Identify exposed Access Manager assets.
  • Reduce exposure or isolate affected systems.
  • Apply vendor fixes and validate.
  • Monitor for related security events.

Frequently asked questions

What is Micro Focus Access Manager?

Micro Focus Access Manager is an identity and access management solution designed to provide secure, adaptive, and context-aware access to applications for users across various devices and locations. It supports single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication, and federation standards like SAML and OAuth.

What type of vulnerability does CVE-2021-22506 represent?

CVE-2021-22506 is an Information Leakage vulnerability within Micro Focus Access Manager. It arises from how advanced configuration settings are handled, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access.

How can CVE-2021-22506 be exploited?

An attacker can exploit CVE-2021-22506 by sending a specially crafted network request to a vulnerable Micro Focus Access Manager instance. This attack requires no special privileges or user interaction and targets the product's handling of advanced configuration settings, leading to unauthorized data exposure.

What is the relevance of CVE-2021-22506?

This vulnerability is listed on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating it has been actively exploited in the wild. Its high impact on confidentiality makes it a significant risk for organizations using affected versions of Micro Focus Access Manager.

How can organizations mitigate CVE-2021-22506?

To address CVE-2021-22506, organizations should upgrade Micro Focus Access Manager to version 5.0 or later. Additionally, auditing configurations, reviewing network logs, and isolating affected systems can help mitigate the risk.

References