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CVE-2021-20399: IBM Qradar SIEM 7.3.0 to 7.3.3 Patch 8 and 7.4.0 to 7.4.3 GA is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Inject...

IBM Qradar SIEM 7.3.0 to 7.3.3 Patch 8 and 7.4.0 to 7.4.3 GA is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 196073.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM QRadar SIEM versions in the listed 7.3 and 7.4 ranges can mishandle XML input. An authenticated remote attacker could use this to expose sensitive information or consume memory. Because QRadar is a core security monitoring platform, compromise or instability can affect detection and incident response.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for internet-reachable, broadly accessible, or business-critical QRadar deployments. Even without confirmed exploitation, the issue can expose sensitive information and impair the platform used to detect other security incidents.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20399 is an XML External Entity injection issue in IBM QRadar SIEM when processing XML data. The supplied CVSS 3.0 score is 7.1 with network attack vector, low privileges required, no user interaction, high confidentiality impact, and low availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to IBM QRadar SIEM deployments running 7.3.0 through 7.3.3 Patch 8 or 7.4.0 through 7.4.3 GA. Risk depends on whether authenticated remote users or connected systems can trigger XML processing paths.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires network access and low privileges, but not user interaction. Treat exploit status as unconfirmed from the provided evidence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sufficient for affected product, version ranges, impact class, and CVSS characteristics. The prompt does not include detailed vulnerable endpoints, proof of exploitation, or exact fixed versions, so validation should stay focused on vendor advisory confirmation and environment inventory.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all IBM QRadar SIEM instances and their exact versions.
  • Review IBM advisory node 6475263 for the supported fix path.
  • Apply IBM-recommended updates for affected QRadar SIEM versions.
  • Restrict authenticated access to QRadar interfaces to trusted users and networks.
  • Monitor QRadar resource usage and unusual XML-related processing errors.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether each QRadar instance matches the affected version ranges.
  • Verify remediation status against IBM advisory and X-Force ID 196073.
  • Check access controls for QRadar users, integrations, and management interfaces.
  • Review logs for abnormal memory consumption or suspicious XML processing failures.
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-2021-20399 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/PR:L/C:H/UI:N/AC:L/S:U/I:N/A:L/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
7.1CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/PR:L/C:H/UI:N/AC:L/S:U/I:N/A:L/RC:C/E:U/RL:O2.84.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20399Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/PR:L/C:H/UI:N/AC:L/S:U/I:N/A:L/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
IBMQRadar SIEM7.3.0, 7.4.0, 7.4.3, 7.3.3.Patch.8Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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