LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2020-4631: IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.6 agent files, in non-default configurations, on Windows are...

IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.6 agent files, in non-default configurations, on Windows are assigned access to everyone with full control permissions, which could allow a local user to cause interruption of the service operations. IBM X-Force ID: 185372.

MediumCVSS 5.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This issue affects IBM Spectrum Protect Plus Windows agent files in non-default configurations. The files may be writable by everyone, allowing a local user to disrupt service operations. It is not described as internet-exploitable, and the bundle provides no evidence of active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted operational reliability risk, not a broad internet emergency. Prioritize backup or recovery environments where local user access is shared, loosely controlled, or business-critical service continuity is important.

Technical view

IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.6 on Windows can assign agent files Everyone: Full Control in non-default configurations. The CVSS 3.0 score is 5.1 with local attack vector and high attack complexity. The stated impact is interruption of service operations.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations running IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.6 Windows agents with the affected non-default configuration. Systems without Windows agents or outside those versions are not shown as affected in the bundle.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided data. The source bundle does not claim active exploitation. Any attack requires local access according to the CVSS vector, so risk depends heavily on local user access and endpoint controls.

Researcher notes

The bundle lacks CWE mapping and does not include detailed IBM remediation text. The CVSS vector indicates local access and high complexity, while the description emphasizes service interruption from permissive file permissions. Avoid expanding affected scope beyond IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.6 on Windows agents.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory for official fix or upgrade guidance.
  • Identify Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.6 Windows agent deployments.
  • Correct overly permissive agent file ACLs per IBM guidance.
  • Restrict local access to affected Windows hosts.
  • Monitor agent files and service health for unexpected local changes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Spectrum Protect Plus versions and Windows agent installations.
  • Confirm whether affected deployments use the non-default configuration.
  • Inspect agent file permissions for Everyone Full Control.
  • Review service interruption logs around affected agents.
  • Verify remediation against IBM support guidance.
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

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

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-4631 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
Medium
CVSS
5.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/AV:L/C:H/AC:H/I:N/A:N/PR:N/S:U/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
5.1CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:N/AV:L/C:H/AC:H/I:N/A:N/PR:N/S:U/RL:O/RC:C/E:U1.43.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.1Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4631Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/AV:L/C:H/AC:H/I:N/A:N/PR:N/S:U/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 Plus10.1.0, 10.1.6Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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