Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
McAfee Database Security before 4.8.2 has a critical flaw where a logged-in attacker could make the DBSec server run malicious serialized Java data, potentially gaining administrator-level control. This is most urgent for organizations still running DBSec and exposing it to non-admin users or broad internal networks.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation if DBSec is still in use, especially in database environments with sensitive data. The issue requires authentication, but successful exploitation could hand over administrator-level control of the DBSec server.
Technical view
CVE-2021-23895 is CWE-502 deserialization of untrusted data in McAfee DBSec prior to 4.8.2. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.0 with adjacent attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations running McAfee Database Security prior to 4.8.2. The source data indicates the attacker needs authentication and adjacent-network reachability, so Internet-wide exposure is not established from the provided evidence.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The described impact is severe: an authenticated remote attacker could create a reverse shell with administrator privileges on the DBSec server using crafted Java serialized data.
Researcher notes
Evidence is concise but sufficient for affected product, version boundary, CWE, privileges, and impact. The source bundle does not provide exploit telemetry, detailed vulnerable endpoints, or alternate mitigations beyond vendor guidance and upgrading past the affected version range.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade McAfee Database Security to 4.8.2 or later where deployed.
- Review McAfee SB10359 for current vendor guidance and support status.
- Limit DBSec server access to trusted administration networks.
- Review DBSec user access and remove unnecessary accounts or privileges.
- Monitor DBSec servers for unexpected administrator-level process or connection activity.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all McAfee Database Security deployments and owners.
- Confirm installed DBSec versions are 4.8.2 or later.
- Check whether DBSec is reachable from untrusted internal network segments.
- Review DBSec authentication logs for unusual low-privileged user activity.
- Verify compensating network controls are documented if immediate upgrade is delayed.
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
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
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-502: Code execution behavior lookup
Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-23895 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H2.36Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10359CVE 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.
Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Deserialization of Untrusted Data represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.