CVE-2021-27784 identifies a cryptographic vulnerability in HCL Software's HCL Launch product, specifically affecting certain container images distributed with versions 7.0.0.0 through 7.0.52, 7.1.0.0 through 7.1.0.1.ifix01, and 7.2.0.0 through 7.2.3.0. The core issue is the inclusion of non-unique HTTPS certificates and a database encryption key within these container images. This practice violates cryptographic best practices by reusing keys and certificates across multiple deployments, which significantly increases the risk of compromise. An attacker who obtains one instance of these keys could potentially intercept HTTPS traffic or decrypt sensitive database contents across all affected deployments using the same keys. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-327, indicating the use of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms or key management practices. Importantly, this issue is limited to container images and does not affect the standard installer packages of HCL Launch. The vendor has provided guidance and tools to replace these non-unique keys and certificates, mitigating the risk. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.9 (medium severity), reflecting a network attack vector with high impact on confidentiality but no impact on integrity or availability, and requiring no privileges or user interaction but with a higher attack complexity. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date.

For European organizations using HCL Launch container images within the affected versions, this vulnerability poses a significant confidentiality risk. Since the HTTPS certificates and database encryption keys are non-unique and reused, attackers who gain access to one compromised key could decrypt HTTPS traffic or database contents across multiple deployments. This could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive deployment data, configuration details, or operational secrets, potentially facilitating further attacks or espionage. The impact is particularly critical for organizations handling sensitive or regulated data, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, or government agencies. However, the vulnerability does not affect the integrity or availability of the system directly, nor does it require authentication or user interaction, making remote exploitation feasible but with moderate complexity. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially given the strategic importance of continuous integration and deployment tools like HCL Launch in enterprise environments. European organizations relying on containerized deployments of HCL Launch should consider this vulnerability a priority for remediation to protect confidentiality and maintain compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR.

1. Immediately identify all deployments of HCL Launch using the affected container images within the organization. 2. Follow HCL's official guidance and utilize the provided tools to replace the non-unique HTTPS certificates and database encryption keys with unique, securely generated keys. 3. Where possible, transition from containerized deployments to standard installer packages, which are not affected by this vulnerability. 4. Implement strict access controls and monitoring around the container image repositories and deployment pipelines to prevent unauthorized access to keys and certificates. 5. Regularly audit cryptographic materials in use to ensure uniqueness and compliance with best practices. 6. Integrate automated scanning in CI/CD pipelines to detect usage of vulnerable container images or non-unique cryptographic assets. 7. Educate DevOps and security teams on the risks of key reuse and the importance of secure key management in containerized environments. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly respond to any potential compromise stemming from this vulnerability.