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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20424: IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information when a det...

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 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. X-Force ID: 196309.

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 may expose sensitive technical details through browser error messages. The disclosed information is limited, but it could help an attacker plan follow-on activity. The issue is medium severity and appears most relevant where CP4A is still deployed and reachable by low-privileged users.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate-priority cleanup item unless CP4A 4.3 is internet-facing or broadly accessible internally. The main risk is reconnaissance value for later attacks, not direct takeover.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20424 is an information disclosure issue in IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3. A remote attacker with low privileges can receive detailed technical error output in the browser. The CVSS 3.0 score is 4.3, with confidentiality impact only and no integrity or availability impact stated.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to IBM Cloud Pak for Applications version 4.3, especially browser-accessible deployments where low-privileged authenticated users can trigger detailed technical errors.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. CVSS indicates low attack complexity, network access, no user interaction, and low privileges required.

Researcher notes

No CWE is supplied in the bundle. The CVSS vector confirms network reachability, low privileges required, no user interaction, and confidentiality-only impact. The bundle references IBM X-Force ID 196309 but does not include exact exploit details or fixed versions.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6471325 for the vendor-listed remediation.
  • Apply the IBM-supported fix or upgrade path for affected CP4A 4.3 systems.
  • Ensure production browser errors do not expose technical details.
  • Restrict access to CP4A administrative or sensitive interfaces where possible.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Cloud Pak for Applications deployments and confirm whether version 4.3 is present.
  • Check whether IBM advisory 6471325 remediation has been applied.
  • Review application behavior for detailed technical errors shown in browsers.
  • Confirm access controls limit low-privileged users from sensitive CP4A surfaces.
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-2021-20424 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
4.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/I:N/A:N/PR:L/UI:N/AV:N/C:L/S:U/E:U/RC:C/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
4.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AC:L/I:N/A:N/PR:L/UI:N/AV:N/C:L/S:U/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.81.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20424Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

CWE details

No CWE listed

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