# CVE-2021-32087: Quest KACE SMA default credentials in FTP service

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32087-quest-kace-sma-default-credentials-in-ftp-service  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-27. Updated: 2026-07-27  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-32087 · Severity: info · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-07-27

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliances (SMA) are used by organizations to manage and deploy software across their networks. A security flaw was identified where the appliance ships with a publicly known default password for its file transfer (FTP) service. An attacker can use these credentials to access the system's database backups, which may contain sensitive information like administrative passwords for other corporate systems, potentially leading to a full network compromise.

Technologies: [Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/kace-systems-management-appliance). Vendors: [Quest](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/quest).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-32087 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2021-32087 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2021-32087?** Informational severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 27 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance 11.0.273.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-32087?** A patch was published on 2021-07-01: Fix released in version 11.1 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2021-32087 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-32087?** Check whether you run Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) version 11.0.273 contains a hardcoded credentials vulnerability. The 'kbftp' account is configured with a default password of 'getbxf', which is publicly documented. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can use these credentials to access the FTP service interface. This interface provides access to MySQL database backups, which contain sensitive information including privileged credentials for other managed systems. The issue is resolved in KACE SMA version 11.1.

## Affected products

- Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) 11.0.273

## Timeline

- 2021-07-01: disclosed: Initial internal KB article creation date
- 2021-07-01: patched: Fix released in version 11.1
- 2026-07-27: advisory: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://support.quest.com/download-product-select](https://support.quest.com/download-product-select)
- [https://support.quest.com/kace-systems-management-appliance/kb/4293505/quest-response-to-criticalstart-vulnerability-report](https://support.quest.com/kace-systems-management-appliance/kb/4293505/quest-response-to-criticalstart-vulnerability-report)

## Related threats

- [Quest KACE SMA rate limit bypass in API login](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32088-quest-kace-sma-rate-limit-bypass-in-api-login)
- [Quest KACE SMA hardcoded symmetric encryption key](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32086-quest-kace-sma-hardcoded-symmetric-encryption-key)
- [Quest KACE SMA default credentials in MySQL database](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32085-quest-kace-sma-default-credentials-in-mysql-database)
- [Quest KACE SMA access control bypass in API endpoints](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32084-quest-kace-sma-access-control-bypass-in-api-endpoints)
- [Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance authentication bypass in SSO](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-32975-quest-kace-systems-management-appliance-authentication-bypass-in)