# CVE-2021-20439: Hardcoded credentials in Security Access Manager

> Unauthorized users can read plain text credentials stored by IBM Security Access Manager, leading to potential account takeover.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/PR:N/AC:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wm4f-m9qr-q5j6

## What is CVE-2021-20439?

CVE-2021-20439 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ibm Security Verify Access, published on 15 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by an unauthorized user.

Weakness: CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-20439?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Ibm Security Access Manager, Ibm Security Verify Access.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-20439?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-20439 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-20439 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20439 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ibm Security Verify Access

- [CVE-2018-1722](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1722/): Code injection in Security Access Manager Appliance (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2016-3028](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3028/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2018-1850](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1850/): Missing authorization in Security Access Manager Appliance (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-3025](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3025/): Security feature bypass in n/a (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2023-30997](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-30997/): IBM Security Access Manager Docker privilege escalation (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-20439 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-20439 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ibm Security Verify Access, published on 15 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20439 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Ibm Security Verify Access. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20439/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20439/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-20439
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20439
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-20439

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20439/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.