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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20397: IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 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: 196017.

MediumCVSS 6.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 contain a web interface cross-site scripting flaw. A user could embed JavaScript that changes trusted-session behavior and may disclose credentials. This is medium severity, but QRadar is a security platform, so compromise of operator sessions can carry business impact beyond the CVSS score.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority remediation item with elevated attention because QRadar supports security monitoring. Patch or mitigate during the next controlled maintenance cycle, sooner if the Web UI is broadly reachable or used by privileged security staff.

Technical view

The issue is XSS in the QRadar SIEM Web UI, tracked as IBM X-Force ID 196017. The supplied CVSS 3.0 score is 6.1, with network attack vector, low complexity, user interaction required, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact. Availability impact is not indicated.

Likely exposure

Organizations running IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 or 7.4 are in scope. Exposure depends on Web UI reachability and whether users can be induced to interact with attacker-controlled content or embedded script paths in the trusted QRadar session.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates user interaction is required. The source description says arbitrary JavaScript in the Web UI could alter intended functionality and potentially disclose credentials within a trusted session.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to CVE, IBM advisory, and X-Force metadata in the bundle. No CWE is provided. Do not infer affected versions beyond QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4, and do not claim active exploitation from the available sources.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory guidance for fixed versions or interim mitigations.
  • Prioritize updates for QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 deployments.
  • Restrict QRadar Web UI access to trusted administrative networks.
  • Reduce exposure for unnecessary external or broad internal access.
  • Remind QRadar users to avoid untrusted links or content.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory QRadar SIEM versions across production and recovery environments.
  • Confirm whether any instance runs QRadar SIEM 7.3 or 7.4.
  • Check IBM advisory and X-Force entry for remediation status.
  • Review Web UI access paths and administrative user groups.
  • Monitor QRadar authentication and session activity for anomalies.
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-2021-20397 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:N/S:C/I:L/PR:N/C:L/AV:N/UI:R/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
6.1CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/A:N/S:C/I:L/PR:N/C:L/AV:N/UI:R/AC:L/RL:O/E:H/RC:C2.82.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.1Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20397Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:N/S:C/I:L/PR:N/C:L/AV:N/UI:R/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
IBMQRadar SIEM7.3, 7.4Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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