CVE-2023-38369 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Security Access Manager Container versions 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1, specifically related to weak password requirements in the default configuration of Docker images. The vulnerability stems from the product not enforcing strong password policies by default, which aligns with CWE-521 (Weak Password Requirements). This weakness allows attackers to more easily compromise user accounts by exploiting weak or default passwords. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.2 (medium severity), with an attack vector of local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not require authentication and can be exploited by an attacker with local access to the system hosting the IBM Security Verify Access Appliance Docker container. Since the vulnerability relates to weak password enforcement, it increases the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive authentication and access management functions, potentially leading to exposure of credentials or unauthorized access to protected resources. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, and no patches are currently linked, indicating that mitigation may rely on configuration changes or upcoming vendor updates.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the security of identity and access management infrastructure. IBM Security Verify Access Appliance is used to manage authentication and access control, often protecting critical enterprise applications and sensitive data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially lateral movement within the network, exposing confidential information and undermining trust in access controls. Given the medium severity and local attack vector, the threat is more relevant to organizations with internal threat actors or those exposed to insider threats. However, if attackers gain local access through other means (e.g., compromised hosts or insider collusion), they could exploit this weakness to escalate privileges or access sensitive systems. The confidentiality impact is high, as compromised accounts could reveal sensitive user credentials or session tokens. European organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which rely heavily on strong identity management, could face regulatory and reputational consequences if this vulnerability is exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2023-38369, European organizations should immediately review and enforce strong password policies on all IBM Security Verify Access Appliance Docker images and containers. This includes configuring the appliance to require complex passwords that meet or exceed organizational standards, such as minimum length, complexity, and expiration policies. Organizations should audit existing deployments to identify any instances running vulnerable versions and apply configuration hardening to disable default or weak passwords. Network segmentation and strict access controls should be implemented to limit local access to hosts running the appliance containers. Monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect suspicious authentication attempts or brute-force activities. Until IBM releases official patches or updates, organizations may consider deploying compensating controls such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the appliance and restricting administrative access to trusted personnel only. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should include checks for weak password configurations in these environments.