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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4731: IBM Aspera Web Application 1.9.14 PL1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Aspera Web Application 1.9.14 PL1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 188055.

MediumCVSS 6.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Aspera Web Application / Aspera Shares 1.9.14 PL1 has a cross-site scripting flaw. An attacker could get JavaScript to run inside the trusted Web UI, potentially exposing credentials or changing what a logged-in user sees. The issue is medium severity, but internet-facing file-transfer portals can raise business risk.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority remediation item. Escalate if the affected Aspera portal is internet-facing, handles sensitive transfers, or is used by privileged accounts.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4731 is an unauthenticated, network-reachable XSS issue requiring user interaction. The CVSS 3.0 score is 6.1, with changed scope and low confidentiality and integrity impact. The source bundle identifies IBM Aspera Shares 1.9.14.PL1 and IBM X-Force ID 188055.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to environments running IBM Aspera Shares / Web Application 1.9.14 PL1, especially where the Web UI is reachable by users or externally accessible.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires user interaction, but no privileges are required, and successful XSS can affect a trusted session.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports XSS with potential credential disclosure in trusted sessions. Sources do not provide payload details, exploit telemetry, or a named fixed version in the supplied bundle, so validation should focus on version exposure and IBM advisory alignment.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory IBM Aspera Shares and Web Application versions.
  • Prioritize systems confirmed as 1.9.14 PL1.
  • Review IBM advisory 6326929 for official remediation.
  • Apply IBM-provided fix or upgrade guidance where applicable.
  • Limit Web UI exposure until remediation is complete.
  • Monitor authentication and session anomalies around Aspera access.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed IBM Aspera Shares version and build.
  • Check whether any instance reports 1.9.14 PL1.
  • Compare remediation status against IBM advisory 6326929.
  • Review web access logs for suspicious Aspera UI activity.
  • Verify no affected Web UI is unnecessarily internet-facing.
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.

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CVE-2020-4731 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:R/AC:L/C:L/S:C/I:L/PR:N/A:N/AV:N/E:H/RC:C/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
6.1CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:R/AC:L/C:L/S:C/I:L/PR:N/A:N/AV:N/E:H/RC:C/RL:O2.82.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.1Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4731Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:R/AC:L/C:L/S:C/I:L/PR:N/A:N/AV:N/E:H/RC:C/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
IBMAspera Shares1.9.14.PL1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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