CVE-2021-29811 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2021-29811 article provides insights into a vulnerability in IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus_GUI 8.1.0 where user credentials are stored in plain text, potentially compromising confidentiality.

Understanding CVE-2021-29811

In September 2021, IBM disclosed CVE-2021-29811, exposing a security flaw in Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus_GUI 8.1.0 that could leave sensitive user credentials vulnerable.

What is CVE-2021-29811?

The vulnerability allows an authenticated admin user to read user credentials stored in plaintext, posing a risk to the confidentiality of sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29811

With a CVSS base score of 4.9, this medium-severity vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to critical user data, potentially resulting in data breaches or unauthorized system access.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29811

Here are the technical specifics of the CVE-2021-29811 vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus_GUI 8.1.0 improperly stores user credentials, making them accessible to authenticated admin users.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus_GUI version 8.1.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated admin user can exploit this flaw to view user credentials stored in plain text, compromising data confidentiality.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-29811, consider the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

IBM users should apply official fixes provided by the vendor.
Regularly monitor for unusual user access or activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement encryption for sensitive user credentials.
Enforce strict access controls and user permissions.

Patching and Updates

Keep systems updated with the latest Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus_GUI patches and security updates released by IBM.