# CVE-2021-38121: Weak communication protocol identified in Advance Authentication client application

> Attackers can exploit weak TLS protocols in NetIQ Advance Authentication client-server communications to bypass security controls.

- **Severity:** High 8.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Aug 2024
- **Updated:** 28 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x9wr-745j-rm5j

## What is CVE-2021-38121?

CVE-2021-38121 is a high-severity vulnerability in OpenText NetIQ Advance Authentication, published on 28 Aug 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Insufficient or weak TLS protocol version identified in Advance authentication client server communication when specific service is accessed between devices.  This issue affects NetIQ Advance Authentication versions before 6.3.5.1

Weakness: CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38121?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microfocus Netiq Advanced Authentication.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38121?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38121 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-38121 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in OpenText NetIQ Advance Authentication

- [CVE-2023-24468](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24468/): Missing authorization in NetIQ Advanced Authentication (critical 9.8)
- [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)
- [CVE-2022-38753](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38753/): Auth bypass in NetIQ Advanced Authentication (medium 6.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38121 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38121 is a high-severity vulnerability in OpenText NetIQ Advance Authentication, published on 28 Aug 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: OpenText NetIQ Advance 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-2021-38121/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38121/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38121
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38121
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38121

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38121/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.