CVE-2022-38753 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in NetIQ Advanced Authentication versions prior to 6.4 SP1. The vulnerability allows an attacker with limited privileges (requiring low privileges) to bypass the multi-factor authentication (MFA) mechanism. Specifically, the flaw enables an attacker to circumvent the MFA factor authentication process without requiring user interaction, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected systems. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), meaning that an attacker does not need specialized conditions or extensive knowledge to exploit it. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N), which increases the risk of automated or stealthy exploitation. The scope of the vulnerability is unchanged (S:U), indicating that the impact is limited to the vulnerable component itself and does not extend to other components or systems. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.3, reflecting a medium severity level, with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability rated as low. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the presence of a bypass in MFA—a critical security control—makes this vulnerability significant for organizations relying on NetIQ Advanced Authentication for secure access management. The vulnerability was reserved in August 2022 and published in November 2022, with a patch available in version 6.4 SP1. The vulnerability was assigned by Micro Focus and enriched by CISA, indicating recognition by authoritative cybersecurity entities.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a notable risk to identity and access management infrastructures that utilize NetIQ Advanced Authentication. Since MFA is a cornerstone of modern security postures, bypassing it can allow unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized transactions, or lateral movement within networks. The impact is particularly critical for sectors with stringent regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government, where identity assurance is paramount. Although the CVSS score rates the impact as low on confidentiality, integrity, and availability individually, the combined effect of bypassing MFA can lead to significant security incidents. Organizations relying on this product for securing remote access, VPNs, or privileged access management could see increased risk of credential compromise and unauthorized system access. The lack of user interaction required for exploitation increases the risk of automated attacks or exploitation by insider threats. However, the requirement for low privileges to exploit somewhat limits the attack surface to users who already have some level of access, which may reduce the risk from external attackers without credentials. Overall, the vulnerability undermines trust in the authentication process and could facilitate advanced persistent threats or insider misuse if left unpatched.

European organizations using NetIQ Advanced Authentication should prioritize upgrading to version 6.4 SP1 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Beyond patching, organizations should implement compensating controls such as: 1) Enforce strict privilege management to limit the number of users with low-level privileges that could exploit this vulnerability. 2) Monitor authentication logs for unusual patterns indicative of MFA bypass attempts, such as successful authentications without corresponding MFA events. 3) Deploy additional layers of security such as network segmentation and anomaly detection to limit the impact of compromised credentials. 4) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authentication mechanisms to detect potential bypasses. 5) Consider integrating behavioral analytics to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation. 6) Educate security teams about this specific vulnerability to ensure rapid response if exploitation is suspected. 7) If immediate patching is not feasible, temporarily disable or restrict access to vulnerable authentication endpoints where possible. These measures will help reduce the risk window and limit potential damage until full remediation is achieved.