LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2020-4549: IBM i2 Analyst Notebook 9.2.1 could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused...

IBM i2 Analyst Notebook 9.2.1 could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by a memory corruption. By persuading a victim to open a specially-crafted file, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 183317.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-4549 is a high-severity IBM i2 Analyst Notebook issue where opening a malicious file can corrupt memory and let an attacker run code on the victim's system. The business risk is concentrated on workstations using affected Analyst Notebook versions and users who handle externally supplied files.

Executive priority

Treat as a prioritized workstation remediation item if IBM i2 Analyst Notebook is deployed. The vulnerability can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but current sources do not show active exploitation.

Technical view

IBM reports memory corruption in IBM i2 Analyst Notebook. A local attacker with no privileges could persuade a user to open a specially crafted file, triggering arbitrary code execution. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.8, with local attack vector, low complexity, required user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations running IBM i2 Analyst Notebook 9.2.1 or 9.2.2, especially on analyst workstations that open case files from external or untrusted sources.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector marks exploit code maturity as unproven. Exploitation requires user interaction by opening a specially crafted file.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are AV:L and UI:R: this is a file-opening attack path, not a remote network service issue. The source bundle names memory corruption and arbitrary code execution but does not provide deeper root-cause details or safe detection artifacts.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify endpoints running IBM i2 Analyst Notebook 9.2.1 or 9.2.2.
  • Check IBM support guidance for fixed versions or official remediation.
  • Prioritize updates on workstations handling externally supplied files.
  • Limit opening Analyst Notebook files from untrusted sources until remediated.
  • Use endpoint controls to monitor abnormal Analyst Notebook child processes.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed Analyst Notebook versions across managed endpoints.
  • Compare patch status against the IBM advisory for CVE-2020-4549.
  • Review whether affected users receive files from external parties.
  • Check EDR telemetry for unusual process behavior involving Analyst Notebook.
  • Document compensating controls where immediate updating is not possible.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-4549 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
7.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AC:L/C:H/A:H/UI:R/I:H/S:U/PR:N/AV:L/RC:C/E:U/RL:O1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4549Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
IBMi2 Analyst Notebook9.2.1, 9.2.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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