CVE-2021-32088: An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273

This month

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2021-32088 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting kace systems management appliance. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273. Certain API endpoints contain a rate-limiting feature to minimize a brute-force attack. This protection can be bypassed by removing the kboxid cookie.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.5% (top 56%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-384
Published	2026-07-27
Last modified	2026-08-03

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: quest

Last updated 2026-08-03 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-07-27 22:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-08-03 14:30 UTCUpdated Record last modified

quest kace systems management appliance DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11.0.273

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.0.273

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy kace-systems-management-appliance || rpm -q kace-systems-management-appliance || kace-systems-management-appliance --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.0.273 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison kace-systems-management-appliance sudo apt install kace-systems-management-appliance=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.0.273> sudo apt-mark hold kace-systems-management-appliance

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list kace-systems-management-appliance sudo dnf downgrade kace-systems-management-appliance-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.0.273> sudo dnf versionlock add kace-systems-management-appliance

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2021-32088?

kace systems management appliance: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-32088 being exploited?

CVE-2021-32088 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2021-32088 affect?

CVE-2021-32088 affects kace systems management appliance. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273. Certain API endpoints contain a rate-limiting feature to minimize a brute-force attack. This protection can be bypassed by removing the kboxid cookie.

How urgent is CVE-2021-32088?

Priority 50/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-32087 HIGH 8.8 DOWNGRADE An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273
CVE-2021-32084 CRITICAL 9.8 DOWNGRADE An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273
CVE-2021-32085 HIGH 8.8 DOWNGRADE An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273
CVE-2021-32086 CRITICAL 9.8 DOWNGRADE An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Systems Deployment Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273

References

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