CVE-2021-42001
📋 TL;DR
PingID Desktop versions before 1.7.3 have an encryption library misconfiguration that could allow attackers to bypass multi-factor authentication. This vulnerability enables successful completion of OTP-based MFA challenges without proper credentials. Organizations using PingID Desktop for authentication are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- PingID Desktop
📦 What is this software?
Pingid Desktop by Pingidentity
Pingid Desktop by Pingidentity
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete MFA bypass allowing unauthorized access to protected systems and data
Likely Case
Targeted attacks against high-value accounts with MFA bypass
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and monitoring
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires attacker to intercept or manipulate OTP communication
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.7.3
Vendor Advisory: https://docs.pingidentity.com/bundle/pingid/page/dyt1645545885978.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download PingID Desktop 1.7.3 or later from official Ping Identity portal. 2. Uninstall previous version. 3. Install new version. 4. Restart system.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable PingID Desktop
allTemporarily disable PingID Desktop and use alternative MFA methods
Network Segmentation
allRestrict network access to PingID Desktop clients
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement additional authentication factors beyond OTP
- Monitor for unusual authentication patterns and failed MFA attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check PingID Desktop version in application settings or About dialogCheck Version:
Not applicable - check via GUI in application settingsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 1.7.3 or higher in application settings📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple failed MFA attempts followed by successful authentication
- Unusual OTP validation patterns
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic patterns to/from PingID Desktop clients
- Suspicious OTP-related network traffic
SIEM Query:
source="pingid" AND (event_type="mfa_bypass" OR auth_result="success" AFTER multiple auth_result="failure")