# CVE-2021-32088: Quest KACE SMA rate limit bypass in API login

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32088-quest-kace-sma-rate-limit-bypass-in-api-login  
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-2021-32088 · Severity: info · Published 2026-07-27

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is an IT asset management solution used to manage and deploy software across corporate networks. A security flaw in its API allows attackers to bypass rate-limiting protections, which are designed to prevent automated password guessing. This could allow an attacker to perform brute-force attacks more effectively, potentially leading to unauthorized account access.

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-2021-32088 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2021-32088 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2021-32088?** Informational severity, published 27 July 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-32088?** 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-2021-32088 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-32088?** 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

A rate-limit bypass vulnerability exists in the API of Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) version 11.0.273. The appliance implements rate-limiting on certain API endpoints to mitigate brute-force attacks; however, the tracking mechanism for these limits relies on the presence of the 'kboxid' cookie. An attacker can bypass these restrictions by programmatically removing the cookie from subsequent requests, allowing for high-frequency automated login attempts. This issue was 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 default credentials in FTP service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-32087-quest-kace-sma-default-credentials-in-ftp-service)
- [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)