# CVE-2021-35528: Auth bypass in Counterparty Settlement and Billing (CSB)

> Attackers can bypass authentication to execute modified Java applets, leading to data extraction or modification in Hitachi Energy retail and billing systems.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/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:** 17 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xg7j-hjr6-42q2

## What is CVE-2021-35528?

CVE-2021-35528 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Hitachi Energy Counterparty Settlement and Billing (CSB), published on 17 Nov 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper Access Control vulnerability in the application authentication and authorization of Hitachi Energy Retail Operations, Counterparty Settlement and Billing (CSB) allows an attacker to execute a modified signed Java Applet JAR file. A successful exploitation may lead to data extraction or modification of data inside the application. This issue affects: Hitachi Energy Retail Operations 5.7.3 and prior versions. Hitachi Energy Counterparty Settlement and Billing (CSB) 5.7.3 prior versions.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-35528?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Hitachienergy Counterparty Settlements and Billing, Hitachienergy Retail Operations.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-35528?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-35528 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-35528 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-35528 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-35528 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-35528 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Hitachi Energy Counterparty Settlement and Billing (CSB), published on 17 Nov 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-2021-35528 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Hitachi Energy Counterparty Settlement and Billing (CSB). 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-2021-35528/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-35528/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-35528
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-35528
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-35528

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-35528/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.