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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20389: IBM Security Guardium 11.2 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a local user.

IBM Security Guardium 11.2 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 195770.

MediumCVSS 5.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Security Guardium 11.2 may store user credentials in clear text, allowing someone with local access to read them. The main business risk is credential exposure, not system takeover by this bug alone. Prioritize environments where Guardium protects sensitive databases or where local access is broadly available.

Executive priority

Handle in the normal vulnerability remediation cycle, with elevated attention for Guardium systems protecting regulated or high-value data. The flaw can expose credentials, but the sources indicate local access requirements and no confirmed active exploitation.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20389 is an information disclosure flaw in IBM Security Guardium 11.2. The CVSS 3.0 vector indicates local attack vector, high attack complexity, no user interaction, high confidentiality impact, and no integrity or availability impact. IBM lists an official remediation, but the supplied bundle does not name a specific fixed version.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM Security Guardium 11.2 systems where a local user can access the clear-text credential storage location. Internet exposure alone is not indicated by the source bundle. Risk rises if local accounts are shared, weakly governed, or available to administrators, operators, or support users.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS exploit maturity is listed as unproven. Treat this as a credential exposure risk requiring local access, not as confirmed in-the-wild exploitation.

Researcher notes

The provided CVSS vector is unusual because it combines local access with no privileges required. No CWE is supplied. Do not assume remote exploitability, affected versions beyond 11.2, or a specific fixed version from the supplied evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6455281 and apply the official remediation for Guardium 11.2.
  • Restrict local user access on Guardium appliances to necessary administrators only.
  • Rotate exposed or potentially exposed credentials after remediation.
  • Review vendor guidance before changing Guardium configuration or credential storage.
  • Monitor local account activity on Guardium systems for unusual access.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Security Guardium deployments and identify version 11.2 systems.
  • Confirm whether IBM advisory 6455281 remediation has been applied.
  • Review local user and administrator access to affected Guardium systems.
  • Check whether any stored credentials require rotation after remediation.
  • Document affected systems, remediation status, and residual access controls.
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-2021-20389 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/C:H/PR:N/AV:L/A:N/AC:H/S:U/I:N/RC:C/RL:O/E:U

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
5.1CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:N/C:H/PR:N/AV:L/A:N/AC:H/S:U/I:N/RC:C/RL:O/E:U1.43.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.1Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20389Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/C:H/PR:N/AV:L/A:N/AC:H/S:U/I:N/RC:C/RL:O/E:U

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
IBMSecurity Guardium11.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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