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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20353: IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (...

IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 194882.

HighCVSS 8.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM WebSphere Application Server can mishandle XML input in affected versions, allowing a remote unauthenticated attacker to read sensitive information or consume memory resources. This is high-risk where affected WebSphere systems process untrusted XML.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for production WebSphere systems that handle sensitive data or external XML input. The main business risk is data exposure, with possible service degradation from memory consumption. No active exploitation is proven in the supplied sources.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20353 is an XXE issue in IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 when processing XML data. CVSS 3.0 is 8.2: network exploitable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, high confidentiality impact, and low availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in environments running IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, or 9.0 that accept or process XML from users, partners, integrations, APIs, or middleware feeds.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector lists exploit maturity as unproven. Treat internet-facing or integration-heavy WebSphere deployments as higher priority because exploitation is remote and unauthenticated.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports XXE during XML processing with confidentiality and availability impact, but no integrity impact. The bundle does not include exploit details, specific fixed builds, or affected components beyond WebSphere Application Server versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory 6413709 for fixed levels or interim fixes.
  • Update affected WebSphere Application Server deployments using IBM guidance.
  • Prioritize systems that process untrusted XML or face external networks.
  • Reduce unnecessary external access to affected WebSphere services.
  • Monitor IBM and X-Force references for updated remediation details.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory WebSphere Application Server versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0.
  • Identify applications and endpoints that parse XML data.
  • Confirm installed fix level against IBM advisory guidance.
  • Review logs for abnormal XML processing errors or memory pressure.
  • Verify internet-facing WebSphere assets are patched or access-restricted.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

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

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CVE-2021-20353 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/S:U/UI:N/AC:L/C:H/A:L/I:N/PR:N/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
4Source 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
8.2CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/S:U/UI:N/AC:L/C:H/A:L/I:N/PR:N/RC:C/E:U/RL:O3.94.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.2High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20353Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/S:U/UI:N/AC:L/C:H/A:L/I:N/PR:N/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
IBMWebSphere Application Server7.0, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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