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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20417: IBM Guardium Data Encryption (GDE) 4.0.0.4 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information wh...

IBM Guardium Data Encryption (GDE) 4.0.0.4 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information when a detailed technical error message is returned in the browser. This information could be used in further attacks against the system. IBM X-Force ID: 196219

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Guardium Data Encryption 4.0.0.4 may reveal sensitive technical details in browser error messages. An attacker already holding low-level access could use that information to plan later attacks. The known impact is limited to confidentiality, not direct data modification or outage.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted hardening item, not an emergency. Prioritize remediation for internet-exposed or broadly accessible GDE deployments because disclosed technical details can help attackers progress.

Technical view

The CVSS 3.0 vector is 4.3: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, low confidentiality impact, and no integrity or availability impact. The source bundle does not identify a CWE or specific vulnerable endpoint.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations running IBM Guardium Data Encryption 4.0.0.4 with browser-accessible functionality reachable by low-privileged users or authenticated remote attackers.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. IBM X-Force classifies it as an information disclosure issue that could support further attacks, but no exploit details are cited.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse. The record identifies information disclosure through detailed browser error messages, but does not provide endpoint names, CWE mapping, exploit maturity beyond CVSS E:U, or concrete fix text in the provided bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory for official remediation or fixed version.
  • Upgrade or apply vendor guidance for GDE 4.0.0.4.
  • Restrict GDE browser access to authorized administrative networks.
  • Reduce low-privileged access where business use does not require it.
  • Monitor for unusual authenticated access to GDE interfaces.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory whether IBM Guardium Data Encryption 4.0.0.4 is deployed.
  • Confirm which GDE browser interfaces are network reachable.
  • Review IBM advisory and X-Force entry for remediation status.
  • After remediation, verify detailed technical errors are not exposed.
  • Check logs for suspicious authenticated access around error responses.
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-2021-20417 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/I:N/C:L/S:U/AC:L/PR:L/AV:N/A: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
4.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:N/I:N/C:L/S:U/AC:L/PR:L/AV:N/A:N/RL:O/E:U/RC:C2.81.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20417Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/I:N/C:L/S:U/AC:L/PR:L/AV:N/A: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
IBMGuardium Data Encryption4.0.0.4Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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