# CVE-2021-22496: Auth bypass in Access Manager

> An authentication bypass in Micro Focus Access Manager allows attackers to leak sensitive information without valid credentials.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Mar 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jj6m-7mph-gg9p

## What is CVE-2021-22496?

CVE-2021-22496 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Access Manager, published on 25 Mar 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Authentication Bypass Vulnerability in Micro Focus Access Manager Product, affects all version prior to version 4.5.3.3. The vulnerability could cause information leakage.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-22496?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microfocus Access Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-22496?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-22496 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-22496 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-22496 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Access Manager

- [CVE-2021-22506](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22506/): Micro Focus Access Manager Information Leakage (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-11878](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-11878/): Reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in OpenText Access Manager (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2021-22528](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22528/): Information leakage vulnerability in NetIQ Access Manager versions prior to version 4.5.4 and 5.0.1 (high 8.0)
- [CVE-2014-5217](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5217/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2026-11877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-11877/): Missing Authorization Vulnerability in OpenText Access Manager (medium 6.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-22496 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-22496 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Access Manager, published on 25 Mar 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-2021-22496 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Access Manager. 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-2021-22496/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22496/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-22496
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22496
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-22496

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22496/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.