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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4771: IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center 8.1.0.000 through 8.1.10.and 7.1.0.000 through 7.1.11 could allow a...

IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center 8.1.0.000 through 8.1.10.and 7.1.0.000 through 7.1.11 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by improper authentication of a websocket endpoint. By using known tools to subscribe to the websocket event stream, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 188993.

MediumCVSS 5.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center had an authentication gap in a websocket endpoint. A remote unauthenticated attacker could subscribe to an event stream and see sensitive information. This is not described as system takeover, but it can expose operational data from affected backup management environments.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation on internet-reachable or broadly accessible backup management systems. The issue is medium severity, but backup operations often expose sensitive business and infrastructure information that can aid later attacks.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4771 affects IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center 8.1.0.000 through 8.1.10 and 7.1.0.000 through 7.1.11. The issue is improper authentication on a websocket endpoint, enabling remote unauthenticated access to sensitive event-stream information. CVSS 3.0 score is 5.3, confidentiality impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where affected Operations Center versions are reachable over a network, especially from untrusted networks. Organizations using IBM Spectrum Protect for backup operations should treat exposed management interfaces as higher concern.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. IBM states exploitation could use known tools to subscribe to the websocket event stream, but no exploit code or weaponized procedure is provided here.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports unauthenticated remote information disclosure through improper websocket authentication. The source bundle does not identify specific leaked fields, public exploitation, or a detailed remediation version, so validation should stay focused on version, reachability, and IBM advisory status.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory for the official fix or upgrade path.
  • Inventory Operations Center versions and prioritize affected 7.1 and 8.1 deployments.
  • Restrict Operations Center access to trusted administrative networks.
  • Monitor access logs for unexpected websocket or event-stream activity.
  • Avoid exposing backup management interfaces directly to the internet.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center is deployed.
  • Record the exact Operations Center version for each deployment.
  • Check whether affected management interfaces are reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review logs for unusual unauthenticated event-stream access patterns.
  • Verify remediation against IBM guidance after patching or upgrade.
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-2020-4771 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
5.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/C:L/A:N/AV:N/AC:L/UI:N/PR:N/S:U/I:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C3.91.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4771Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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 Operations Center8.1, 8.1.10, 7.1, 7.1.11Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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