# CVE-2021-22497: Advanced Authentication Improper Session Management

> Attackers can bypass authentication due to improper session management in Micro Focus Advanced Authentication, potentially taking over accounts.

- **Severity:** Low 3.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-423x-7gwr-q727

## What is CVE-2021-22497?

CVE-2021-22497 is a low-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Micro Focus Advanced Authentication, published on 12 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Advanced Authentication versions prior to 6.3 SP4 have a potential broken authentication due to improper session management issue.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-22497?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microfocus Netiq Advanced Authentication.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-22497?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-22497 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-22497 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-22497 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Micro Focus Advanced Authentication

- [CVE-2023-24468](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24468/): Missing authorization in NetIQ Advanced Authentication (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-38121](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38121/): Weak communication protocol identified in Advance Authentication client application (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2021-22530](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22530/): Improper account management vulnerability in NetIQ Advance Authentication (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2021-22509](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22509/): Handling of sensitive data in process memory in NetIQ Advance Authentication (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2021-22529](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22529/): Sensitive Data Exposure leaks potential information in NetIQ Advance Authentication (medium 6.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-22497 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-22497 is a low-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Micro Focus Advanced Authentication, published on 12 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-22497 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Micro Focus Advanced Authentication. 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-2021-22497/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22497/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-22497
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22497
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-22497

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22497/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.