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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20401: IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key, which...

IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key, which it uses for its own inbound authentication, outbound communication to external components, or encryption of internal data. IBM X-Force ID: 196075.

MediumCVSS 5.9Not 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 used hard-coded credentials or keys in security-sensitive functions. The main business risk is exposure of confidential internal security data if an attacker gains local access and can overcome the high-complexity conditions described by the CVSS vector.

Executive priority

Prioritize this for QRadar environments because SIEM systems hold sensitive security telemetry. It is not evidenced as actively exploited here, but affected versions should be remediated through IBM guidance, especially where local host access is broadly available.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20401 is a hard-coded credential issue in IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4. CVSS 3.0 score is 5.9, with local attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction, changed scope, high confidentiality impact, and no integrity or availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 or 7.4. The CVSS vector indicates local access is required, so internet exposure alone is not the primary condition, but QRadar host access and administrative boundaries matter.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector marks exploit maturity as unproven. Treat exploitation claims cautiously unless IBM, CISA KEV, or another cited source confirms them.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record, IBM advisory reference, and X-Force entry. The source bundle identifies affected products and CVSS properties but does not include detailed exploit mechanics, affected fix packs, or remediation text.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory QRadar SIEM deployments and identify versions 7.3 and 7.4.
  • Review IBM advisory 6449682 for official remediation details.
  • Apply IBM-recommended fixes or supported upgrades for affected QRadar versions.
  • Restrict local access to QRadar hosts to authorized administrators only.
  • Review IBM guidance before attempting credential or key rotation.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm each QRadar SIEM instance version and applied fix level.
  • Check whether IBM advisory conditions match your deployment.
  • Verify local user and administrator access paths to QRadar hosts.
  • Review QRadar host logs for unusual local access activity.
  • Document remediation status for each affected appliance or node.
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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Credential and access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-20401 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:C/I:N/A:N/AV:L/C:H/PR:N/AC:H/UI:N/RL:O/E:U/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
5.9CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/S:C/I:N/A:N/AV:L/C:H/PR:N/AC:H/UI:N/RL:O/E:U/RC:C1.44Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.9Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20401Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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