Alerts: CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog

Source URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2024/12/23/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalog
Source: Alerts
Title: CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog

Feedly Summary: CISA has added one new vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation.

CVE-2021-44207 Acclaim Systems USAHERDS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability

These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise.
Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities established the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog as a living list of known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise. BOD 22-01 requires Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to remediate identified vulnerabilities by the due date to protect FCEB networks against active threats. See the BOD 22-01 Fact Sheet for more information.
Although BOD 22-01 only applies to FCEB agencies, CISA strongly urges all organizations to reduce their exposure to cyberattacks by prioritizing timely remediation of Catalog vulnerabilities as part of their vulnerability management practice. CISA will continue to add vulnerabilities to the catalog that meet the specified criteria.

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The text discusses a newly identified vulnerability (CVE-2021-44207) added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, highlighting the need for timely remediation against known threats, particularly for federal agencies under BOD 22-01 guidance.

Detailed Description: The provided content is relevant to multiple aspects of security, particularly in the context of information security and compliance with regulations designed to mitigate risks from known vulnerabilities.

– **CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog**: This catalog includes CVEs that have been identified as actively exploited in the wild, emphasizing the urgency for organizations to address these weaknesses.

– **CVE-2021-44207**: This specific vulnerability pertains to Acclaim Systems USAHERDS and highlights the common issue of hard-coded credentials, which pose serious security risks.

– **Importance of Remediation**:
– The Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01 mandates that Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies address identified vulnerabilities by specified deadlines.
– The directive aims to enhance the security posture of federal networks by minimizing the exposure to cyber threats.

– **Broader Implications**:
– Although BOD 22-01 primarily targets federal agencies, CISA encourages all organizations to adopt similar vigilance and remediation practices.
– The reference to continuous updates to the catalog indicates an ongoing commitment to identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities, which is crucial in the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Key Insights for Professionals:
– Security professionals should integrate the identification and remediation of known vulnerabilities into their risk management frameworks.
– Organizations not bound by federal guidelines should proactively monitor similar vulnerabilities and adopt best practices suggested by CISA.
– Keeping abreast of updates in CISA’s catalog can aid in prioritizing security efforts and resource allocation to protect critical systems and data.

In conclusion, the text underlines the necessity for robust vulnerability management practices across all sectors, thereby reinforcing the importance of compliance with established security directives.