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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20363: IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 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: 195034.

MediumCVSS 5.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 has a web interface cross-site scripting flaw. A low-privileged user could place JavaScript into the UI, affecting another user who views it and potentially exposing credentials inside a trusted session.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted remediation item, not an emergency. Prioritize affected 4.3 instances that support business-critical workflows, have broad user access, or are used by administrators handling sensitive credentials.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20363 is an XSS issue in IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3. CVSS 3.0 score is 5.4 with network attack vector, low privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact, and no availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running IBM Cloud Pak for Applications version 4.3, especially where the Web UI is reachable by low-privileged authenticated users or shared administrative workflows.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires low privileges and user interaction, but could affect another trusted session through the Web UI.

Researcher notes

Evidence identifies only IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3. The bundle does not provide payload details, fixed version text, or proof of active exploitation. Use IBM advisory and X-Force ID 195034 as primary references.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6471341 for the official fix or supported remediation.
  • Confirm whether any Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 deployments remain in service.
  • Restrict Web UI access to trusted users until remediation is complete.
  • Reduce unnecessary low-privileged access to affected administrative interfaces.
  • Monitor IBM X-Force entry 195034 for updated vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Cloud Pak for Applications deployments and confirm exact versions.
  • Check whether version 4.3 is present in production, staging, or legacy environments.
  • Review Web UI access controls for low-privileged authenticated users.
  • Verify remediation status against IBM advisory 6471341.
  • Assess logs or reports for suspicious Web UI content changes.
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-2021-20363 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:C/AV:N/C:L/PR:L/UI:R/A:N/I:L/AC:L/RL:O/E:H/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
5.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/S:C/AV:N/C:L/PR:L/UI:R/A:N/I:L/AC:L/RL:O/E:H/RC:C2.32.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20363Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:C/AV:N/C:L/PR:L/UI:R/A:N/I:L/AC:L/RL:O/E:H/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 Applications4.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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