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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20369: IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that could allow an a...

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that could allow an attacker to decrypt highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 195361.

MediumCVSS 5.9Not 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 used cryptography weaker than expected. In the right conditions, an attacker could decrypt highly sensitive information. The public data rates this as medium severity, but the confidentiality impact is high for organizations still running the affected version.

Executive priority

Handle as a moderate-priority confidentiality issue. Escalate priority if the affected product handles customer, regulated, credential, or business-critical sensitive data, because successful exploitation could expose highly sensitive information.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20369 affects IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3. The CVSS 3.0 vector indicates network attackability, no privileges or user interaction required, high attack complexity, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, and no integrity or availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 deployments. Organizations that retired or upgraded from this version are less likely to be affected, but this should be verified against IBM’s advisory and asset inventory.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not identify active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. CVSS exploit maturity is marked unproven, and attack complexity is high. Treat this as a confidentiality risk requiring version confirmation and vendor-guided remediation.

Researcher notes

Available evidence is sparse: no CWE is listed, no CPEs are provided, and the bundle does not describe the specific weak algorithms or attack prerequisites. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the CVSS vector and IBM’s stated confidentiality impact.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all IBM Cloud Pak for Applications deployments and versions.
  • Review IBM advisory node 6471331 and X-Force ID 195361.
  • Apply IBM-provided remediation or upgrade guidance where applicable.
  • Restrict network exposure to affected services until remediation is confirmed.
  • Prioritize systems handling sensitive or regulated data.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 is present.
  • Check whether IBM’s advisory remediation has already been applied.
  • Map sensitive data protected by the affected cryptographic behavior.
  • Review compensating controls around network access and data exposure.
  • Record remediation status for vulnerability management tracking.
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.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2021-20369 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
5.9 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/C:H/AV:N/UI:N/PR:N/A:N/AC:H/I: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
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
5.9CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/S:U/C:H/AV:N/UI:N/PR:N/A:N/AC:H/I:N/RC:C/E:U/RL:O2.23.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.9Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20369Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/C:H/AV:N/UI:N/PR:N/A:N/AC:H/I: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
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.