CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2021-29728 — Ibm Sterling External Authentication Server security vulnerability

Medium CVSS 4.9

IBM Sterling Secure Proxy 6.0.1, 6.0.2, 2.4.3.2, and 3.4.3.2 contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key, which it uses for its own inbound authentication, outbound communication to external components, or encryption of internal data. IBM X-Force ID: 201160.

Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.9 (3.1)
Published
2021-08-30
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-798

Affected products

  • ibm / sterling_external_authentication_server / 2.4.3.2
  • ibm / sterling_external_authentication_server / 6.0.1.0
  • ibm / sterling_external_authentication_server / 6.0.2.0
  • ibm / sterling_secure_proxy / 3.4.3.2
  • ibm / sterling_secure_proxy / 6.0.1
  • ibm / sterling_secure_proxy / 6.0.2

Matched remediation archetype

Authentication bypass and missing authentication

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Check exposure

  • Map every affected endpoint and protocol path, including alternate ports, legacy routes, recovery flows, service accounts, and machine-to-machine access.
  • Confirm which deployments enable the affected authentication mode and whether the interface is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review session, token, credential, and proxy trust configuration without attempting account takeover.

Remediate safely

  • Apply the supported fix and centralize fail-closed authentication before protected request handling.
  • Remove default or embedded credentials, rotate affected secrets and sessions, and bind authentication decisions to the intended audience and channel.
  • Add negative tests for alternate routes, malformed or absent credentials, recovery flows, and proxy-derived identity.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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