CVE-2023-43016 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Security Verify Access Appliance and IBM Security Verify Access Docker versions 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1. The root cause is the presence of a user account configured with an empty password within the appliance's configuration files. This misconfiguration allows a remote attacker to bypass authentication entirely and log into the server. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-258 (Use of a Hard-coded or Empty Password), indicating a fundamental security misconfiguration. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.3, reflecting high severity due to network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:L/I:L/A:L) of the appliance, as unauthorized access could lead to data exposure, unauthorized changes, or service disruption. IBM Security Verify Access Appliance is a critical component in enterprise identity and access management, often deployed to secure access to applications and services. The vulnerability does not currently have known exploits in the wild, but the ease of exploitation and critical role of the appliance make it a significant threat. No patches are listed yet, so mitigation relies on configuration audits and network controls until IBM releases updates.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is substantial. IBM Security Verify Access Appliance is widely used in enterprise environments to enforce authentication and access policies. Unauthorized access through an empty password account could allow attackers to bypass all security controls managed by the appliance, leading to potential data breaches, unauthorized privilege escalation, and disruption of critical business services. This could affect sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications, where identity management is crucial. The compromise of these appliances could also serve as a foothold for lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader cyberattacks. Additionally, regulatory compliance frameworks in Europe, such as GDPR, impose strict requirements on protecting personal data, and exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to significant legal and financial penalties. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially given the low complexity of exploitation and the appliance’s exposure to network access.

1. Immediately audit all user accounts configured on IBM Security Verify Access Appliances to identify and remove any accounts with empty or default passwords. 2. Restrict network access to the management interfaces of the appliance using network segmentation, firewalls, and VPNs to limit exposure to trusted administrators only. 3. Monitor logs and access records for any unauthorized or suspicious login attempts, especially from external IP addresses. 4. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) where supported to add an additional layer of security beyond passwords. 5. Regularly review and enforce strong password policies and configuration management to prevent similar misconfigurations. 6. Stay informed on IBM’s security advisories and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available to remediate the vulnerability definitively. 7. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to detect anomalous activities targeting the appliance. 8. Conduct security awareness training for administrators managing these appliances to prevent configuration errors.