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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20423: IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 could allow an authenticated user gain escalated privilesges due to impr...

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 could allow an authenticated user gain escalated privilesges due to improper application permissions. IBM X-Force ID: 196308.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 has a high-severity privilege escalation issue. A logged-in user could gain higher privileges because application permissions were improperly handled. This matters most where Cloud Pak access is broad or tied to sensitive operational systems.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for any production Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 environment, especially where the platform manages sensitive applications or administrative workflows. The risk is high, but source evidence does not support emergency active-exploitation claims.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20423 affects IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3. The source describes improper application permissions allowing an authenticated user to escalate privileges. CVSS is 8.8 high, with network attack vector, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM Cloud Pak for Applications version 4.3 based on the provided sources. The attacker must already be authenticated, but network reachability and low required privileges increase operational risk.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public evidence of active exploitation. IBM X-Force lists the issue, but the provided evidence does not include exploit details, public exploit status, or observed attacks.

Researcher notes

No CWE is listed in the source bundle. The CVSS data indicates broad impact and low attack complexity, but the description is brief. Treat the IBM advisory and X-Force entry as authoritative for exact remediation details.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 deployments.
  • Review IBM advisory 6471329 for the vendor-recommended fix path.
  • Apply IBM’s official remediation when confirmed for your deployment.
  • Restrict Cloud Pak access to trusted users and networks until remediated.
  • Audit roles and permissions for unexpected privilege grants.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any deployment runs Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3.
  • Check IBM advisory and X-Force record for applicable fixed levels.
  • Verify remediation status in asset and configuration records.
  • Review user-role mappings for least privilege after remediation.
  • Monitor logs for unusual authenticated privilege changes.
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-2021-20423 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:H/AC:L/I:H/UI:N/PR:L/C:H/AV:N/S:U/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
8.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/A:H/AC:L/I:H/UI:N/PR:L/C:H/AV:N/S:U/RL:O/E:U/RC:C2.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20423Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:H/AC:L/I:H/UI:N/PR:L/C:H/AV:N/S:U/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
IBMCloud Pak for Applications4.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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