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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20358: IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 20.0.3, 20.0.2-IF002 stores potentially sensitive information in clear text in...

IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 20.0.3, 20.0.2-IF002 stores potentially sensitive information in clear text in API connection log files. This information could be obtained by a user with permissions to read log files. IBM X-Force ID: 194965.

MediumCVSS 6.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Affected IBM Cloud Pak for Automation releases may write sensitive API connection information into log files in clear text. A user who can read those logs could obtain confidential data. The main business risk is credential or secret leakage through log access, not direct remote takeover.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation where affected deployments process sensitive integrations or logs are broadly accessible. Treat this as a confidentiality control failure that can amplify the impact of low-privilege account compromise.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20358 affects IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 20.0.2.IF002 and 20.0.3. The vulnerability is clear-text storage of potentially sensitive API connection data in log files. CVSS 3.0 is 6.5, with network attack vector, low privileges required, and high confidentiality impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations running the affected IBM Cloud Pak for Automation versions where users, operators, tools, or integrations can read API connection logs.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public exploitation evidence. Abuse requires a user with permissions to read relevant logs, so the risk is mainly insider access, compromised accounts, or overly broad log permissions.

Researcher notes

Evidence identifies affected versions and impact, but the supplied bundle does not include exact fixed build details or exploit observations. Focus validation on version confirmation, log contents, log-reader permissions, and whether sensitive values require rotation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory guidance for fixed versions or required interim fixes.
  • Upgrade or remediate affected Cloud Pak for Automation deployments per IBM guidance.
  • Restrict log file access to only operational roles that require it.
  • Review retention and handling for logs that may contain sensitive connection data.
  • Rotate exposed credentials or secrets if sensitive values were logged.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Cloud Pak for Automation versions across environments.
  • Confirm whether 20.0.2.IF002 or 20.0.3 is deployed.
  • Review API connection log access permissions and reader groups.
  • Check relevant logs for clear-text sensitive connection data.
  • Assess whether exposed secrets require rotation or incident handling.
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

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CVE-2021-20358 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/I:N/AV:N/A:N/AC:L/UI:N/C:H/S:U/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
6.5CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:L/I:N/AV:N/A:N/AC:L/UI:N/C:H/S:U/E:U/RL:O/RC:C2.83.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.5Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20358Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/I:N/AV:N/A:N/AC:L/UI:N/C:H/S:U/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
IBMCloud Pak for Automation20.0.2.IF002, 20.0.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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