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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4890: IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.0 through 5.0.5.5 and 5.1.0 through 5.1.0.2 could allow a local user with a valid ro...

IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.0 through 5.0.5.5 and 5.1.0 through 5.1.0.2 could allow a local user with a valid role to the REST API to cause a denial of service due to weak or absense of rate limiting. IBM X-Force ID: 190973.

MediumCVSS 4.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Spectrum Scale REST API could be disrupted by a local user who already has a valid high-privilege API role. The issue is weak or absent rate limiting, so the business impact is service availability rather than data theft. It is not listed in CISA KEV, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a bounded availability risk. Prioritize remediation for production storage clusters, especially where many operators or automation accounts can access the REST API.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4890 is a local denial-of-service issue in IBM Spectrum Scale REST API rate limiting. A valid API role is required. CVSS 3.0 is 4.4 with local access, high privileges, low complexity, no confidentiality or integrity impact, and high availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is mainly environments running affected IBM Spectrum Scale versions with REST API access granted to local users or administrators. Internet exposure is not indicated by the source bundle.

Exploitation context

The provided data does not show public exploitation or KEV listing. Abuse requires a local user with a valid REST API role, which narrows attacker access but matters in shared administration or multi-operator environments.

Researcher notes

The core weakness is inadequate rate limiting on the Spectrum Scale REST API. Sources do not provide exploit mechanics, specific fixed versions, or evidence of exploitation, so validation should focus on version exposure, API role assignments, and IBM remediation guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory for the supported fixed Spectrum Scale release.
  • Upgrade affected 5.0.x and 5.1.0.x deployments per IBM guidance.
  • Restrict REST API roles to users with a clear operational need.
  • Monitor REST API request volume and service availability anomalies.
  • Review local administrative accounts with Spectrum Scale API access.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Spectrum Scale versions across clusters.
  • Confirm whether versions fall within 5.0.0-5.0.5.5 or 5.1.0-5.1.0.2.
  • Identify users and roles allowed to use the REST API.
  • Check IBM advisory and X-Force entry for remediation details.
  • Review logs for unusual REST API request bursts or service degradation.
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.

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CVE-2020-4890 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:H/AV:L/I:N/UI:N/C:N/PR:H/AC:L/S:U/RL:O/E:U/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
4.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/A:H/AV:L/I:N/UI:N/C:N/PR:H/AC:L/S:U/RL:O/E:U/RC:C0.83.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4890Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:H/AV:L/I:N/UI:N/C:N/PR:H/AC:L/S:U/RL:O/E:U/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 Scale5.0.0, 5.0.5.5, 5.1.0, 5.1.0.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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