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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4494: IBM Spectrum Protect Client 8.1.7.0 through 8.1.9.1 (Linux and Windows), 8.1.9.0 trough 8.1.9.1 (AIX) and I...

IBM Spectrum Protect Client 8.1.7.0 through 8.1.9.1 (Linux and Windows), 8.1.9.0 trough 8.1.9.1 (AIX) and IBM Spectrum Protect for Space Management 8.1.7.0 through 8.1.9.1 (Linux), 8.1.9.0 through 8.1.9.1 (AIX) web user interfaces could allow an attacker to bypass authentication due to improper session validation which can result in access to unauthorized resources. IBM X-Force ID: 182019.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw affects IBM Spectrum Protect Client and Spectrum Protect for Space Management web interfaces. An unauthenticated network attacker could bypass authentication because sessions are not validated correctly, potentially reaching resources they should not access. The main business risk is unauthorized disclosure from backup or storage management systems.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority remediation for exposed backup and storage management systems. Backup infrastructure often contains sensitive operational data, and this flaw may allow unauthorized access without credentials.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4494 is an improper session validation issue in specified IBM Spectrum Protect web UIs. CVSS 3.0 is 7.5 High, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running affected IBM Spectrum Protect Client or Space Management versions with reachable web user interfaces on Linux, Windows, or AIX. Internet or broadly reachable management interfaces raise urgency.

Exploitation context

The bundle reports KEV as false and CVSS exploit maturity as unproven. No provided source states active exploitation. The issue is still significant because exploitation requires no authentication, no user interaction, and can be attempted over the network.

Researcher notes

Affected ranges are source-stated as Client 8.1.7.0-8.1.9.1 on Linux/Windows, Client 8.1.9.0-8.1.9.1 on AIX, Space Management 8.1.7.0-8.1.9.1 on Linux, and 8.1.9.0-8.1.9.1 on AIX. Exact fixed versions are not included in the provided bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory for the official fix and supported upgrade path.
  • Upgrade or remediate affected IBM Spectrum Protect components per IBM guidance.
  • Restrict web UI access to trusted administrative networks only.
  • Review firewall, VPN, and management-plane exposure for affected hosts.
  • Monitor for suspicious access attempts against Spectrum Protect web interfaces.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Spectrum Protect Client and Space Management versions across Linux, Windows, and AIX.
  • Confirm whether affected web user interfaces are enabled and network reachable.
  • Verify remediated systems are outside the affected version ranges.
  • Review access logs for unexpected unauthenticated or anomalous web UI activity.
  • Document compensating controls if immediate upgrade is not possible.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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CVE-2020-4494 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:N/A:N/S:U/UI:N/C:H/AC:L/PR:N/AV:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/I:N/A:N/S:U/UI:N/C:H/AC:L/PR:N/AV:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U3.93.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4494Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:N/A:N/S:U/UI:N/C:H/AC:L/PR:N/AV:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
IBMSpectrum Protect for Space Management (Linux)8.1.7.0, 8.1.9.1Listed
IBMSpectrum Protect for Space Management (AIX)8.1.9.0, 8.1.9.1Listed
IBMSpectrum Protect Client (AIX)8.1.9.0, 8.1.9.1Listed
IBMSpectrum Protect Client (Linux and Windows)8.1.7.0, 8.1.9.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.