An issue was discovered in Veritas Backup Exec before 21.2
Why It Matters
Analysis dossierWhy It Matters
An issue was discovered in Veritas Backup Exec before 21.2. The communication between a client and an Agent requires successful authentication, which is typically completed over a secure TLS communication. However, due to a vulnerability in the SHA Authentication scheme, an attacker is able to gain unauthorized access and complete the authentication process. Subsequently, the client can execute data management protocol commands on the authenticated connection. The attacker could use one of these commands to execute an arbitrary command on the system using system privileges.
Immediate Attention
Yes
Unknown
Risk basis: CISA KEV exploitation signal; HIGH severity; Source-confirmed exploitation or CISA KEV/ransomware metadata
Affected Products & Remediation
1 source-backed product- veritas backup exec · < 21.2 · NVD CPE · Source
Vendor or catalog guidance (source)
- CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Known exploitation (source facts)
Only what a source states. Unknown means no source has said either way; it is not "not exploited".
- CISA KEV
- Listed
- Exploited (source statement)
- Yes
- Publicly disclosed (source)
- Unknown
CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Suggested hunting (rule-based inference)
SecOps Signal recommendation (rule-based inference). These steps are hunting hypotheses from the vulnerability class; they do not state or imply that exploitation occurred here or anywhere.
Matched kev-network-exposure (CVSS AV:N, CISA KEV Listed)
Exposure
- Identify assets with the exact CVE and confirm the affected product/version against the advisory.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · KEV listing raises urgency, but inventory is needed to establish local exposure. · Rule kev-network-exposure
Exploitation evidence
- Review relevant edge or application access logs for unusual requests around the advisory window.Telemetry: CommonSecurityLog · Log review is a hunting hypothesis; KEV listing alone does not show local exploitation. · Rule kev-network-exposure
Response
- Recheck the affected assets after the source-stated mitigation or update is applied.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · A follow-up inventory check verifies local remediation. · Rule kev-network-exposure
CISA KEV Record
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Change History & Source Data
— No recorded material change
- CNA / source
- cve@mitre.org
- Record status · verification
- UPDATED · CISA KEV confirmed
- CPE
- cpe:2.3:a:veritas:backup_exec:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Evidence & Provenance
Linked by the query's stored exact CVE association. Review required tables and validation status before use.
DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities| where CveId == "CVE-2021-27878"| project DeviceId, DeviceName, OSPlatform, OSVersion, SoftwareVendor, SoftwareName, SoftwareVersion, CveId, VulnerabilitySeverityLevel, RecommendedSecurityUpdate, RecommendedSecurityUpdateId| sort by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel descLooking up related community queries…