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  3. CVE-2021-32648
Exploited in the wildServers & business softwareWork IT

CVE-2021-32648 October CMS October CMS: login or permission bypass

In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.

Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Feb 1, 2022

What to do

  1. Install October CMS's security update for October CMS. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
  2. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
  3. Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
  4. Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.

Who is affected

Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.

The details

Official name
October CMS Improper Authentication
Product
October CMS October CMS
CISA description
In affected versions of the october/system package an attacker can request an account password reset and then gain access to the account using a specially crafted request.
Type of flaw
Login or permission bypass (CWE-287)
Confirmed exploited
Jan 18, 2022
US federal patch deadline
Feb 1, 2022

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Answering about CVE-2021-32648 ·

Questions about CVE-2021-32648

Is CVE-2021-32648 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2021-32648 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jan 18, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.

How do I fix CVE-2021-32648?

Install October CMS's security update for October CMS. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.

Am I affected by CVE-2021-32648?

Only if you use October CMS October CMS. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

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