Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
During certain MongoDB Ops Manager upgrades, SSL for managed MongoDB cluster members can be temporarily disabled. The risk is exposure of sensitive database traffic during the upgrade window, but only in a narrow configuration involving multiple Ops Manager application servers and optional client certificates.
Executive priority
Treat as a controlled upgrade-risk issue, not an emergency internet-wide vulnerability. Prioritize review before any affected Ops Manager upgrade because the business impact could include exposed database traffic during maintenance.
Technical view
CVE-2021-20335 is a CWE-319 cleartext transmission issue in MongoDB Ops Manager 4.2 through 4.2.24 during upgrades to pre-4.4.12 versions. Automation can incorrectly treat SSL as disabled and temporarily disable SSL for cluster members. Impact requires multiple Ops Manager application servers and clientCertificateMode=OPTIONAL or allowConnectionsWithoutCertificates=true.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to organizations running MongoDB Ops Manager 4.2.x with multiple application servers, SSL-enabled MongoDB processes, and optional client certificate enforcement during an affected upgrade path.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The issue is upgrade-triggered, temporary, and configuration-dependent, but confidentiality and integrity impact are rated high if traffic is exposed.
Researcher notes
The vulnerability depends on state transitions in Ops Manager Automation during a specific multi-server upgrade scenario. Evidence indicates the condition self-corrects after upgrade completion, so validation should focus on upgrade path, certificate mode, and observed SSL state.
Mitigation direction
- Use MongoDB’s documented safe upgrade path to 4.4.13 or later.
- Avoid affected upgrades from Ops Manager 4.2.x directly to pre-4.4.12 versions.
- Review whether optional client certificates are required during upgrades.
- Check current MongoDB vendor release notes before planning remediation.
- Schedule upgrade monitoring for SSL state across managed cluster members.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Ops Manager versions, upgrade targets, and application server count.
- Confirm whether MongoDB process SSL is enabled before upgrade.
- Check clientCertificateMode and allowConnectionsWithoutCertificates settings.
- Review automation logs for temporary SSL configuration changes.
- Verify SSL is enabled on cluster members after upgrade completion.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-319: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-20335 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N1.55.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://docs.opsmanager.mongodb.com/v4.2/release-notes/application/#onprem-server-4-2-23CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.