CVE-2021-32086

Hardcoded Encryption Key Exposes Secrets in Quest KACE SMA

Published Jul 27, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.8 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273. It uses a hardcoded symmetric encryption key to encrypt secrets in the MySQL databases. (This key is not unique for each installation.) An attacker that gains access to the MySQL server or a backup files can decrypt the secrets. Often, the decrypted secrets can be used to escalate privileges within KACE, or gain privileged access to unrelated systems or services.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Hardcoded Encryption Key Exposes Secrets in Quest KACE SMA
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Hard‑coded Key in Quest KACE SMA Enables Secret Decryption and Privilege Escalation
Weaknesses CWE-330
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Hard‑coded Key in Quest KACE SMA Enables Secret Decryption and Privilege Escalation
Weaknesses CWE-321
CWE-330
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Quest
Quest kace Systems Deployment Appliance
Vendors & Products Quest
Quest kace Systems Deployment Appliance
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273. It uses a hardcoded symmetric encryption key to encrypt secrets in the MySQL databases. (This key is not unique for each installation.) An attacker that gains access to the MySQL server or a backup files can decrypt the secrets. Often, the decrypted secrets can be used to escalate privileges within KACE, or gain privileged access to unrelated systems or services.
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Jul 28, 2026, 2:54 PM
Reserved
May 6, 2021, 12:00 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 27, 2026, 10:16 PM
Modified
Aug 3, 2026, 2:30 PM