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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20479: IBM Cloud Pak System 2.3.0 through 2.3.3.3 Interim Fix 1 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms...

IBM Cloud Pak System 2.3.0 through 2.3.3.3 Interim Fix 1 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that could allow an attacker to decrypt highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 197498.

MediumCVSS 5.9Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cloud Pak System used weaker-than-expected cryptography in affected 2.3.x releases. If an attacker can overcome the high attack complexity, the main business risk is exposure of highly sensitive information. The sources do not cite integrity or availability impact.

Executive priority

Handle as a moderate confidentiality risk. It is not a cited active-exploitation emergency, but affected systems protecting sensitive data should be remediated through IBM guidance in the normal vulnerability management cycle.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20479 affects IBM Cloud Pak System 2.3.0 through 2.3.3.3 Interim Fix 1. CVSS 3.0 is 5.9 with network attack vector, no privileges or user interaction, high complexity, and high confidentiality impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running the listed IBM Cloud Pak System versions. Systems processing or protecting sensitive data deserve priority validation because the stated impact is decryption of highly sensitive information.

Exploitation context

No source in the bundle reports active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The CVSS exploit maturity is unproven, and attack complexity is high, so treat this as credible but not publicly confirmed exploited.

Researcher notes

The public bundle does not name the specific weak algorithms, affected cryptographic component, or fixed version. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the CVSS vector and IBM description. Use IBM advisory details for exact remediation validation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory for the vendor-supported remediation path.
  • Upgrade or patch affected IBM Cloud Pak System deployments per IBM guidance.
  • Prioritize systems handling regulated, confidential, or customer-sensitive data.
  • Review post-remediation data protection needs with the application owner.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Cloud Pak System versions across all environments.
  • Flag versions 2.3.0 through 2.3.3.3 Interim Fix 1 as affected.
  • Review IBM X-Force ID 197498 and the IBM support advisory.
  • Confirm remediation status in maintenance and change records.
  • Assess whether sensitive data was protected by affected cryptography.
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-2021-20479 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.9 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/I:N/UI:N/PR:N/AC:H/S:U/A:N/C:H/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
5.9CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/I:N/UI:N/PR:N/AC:H/S:U/A:N/C:H/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.23.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.9Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20479Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/I:N/UI:N/PR:N/AC:H/S:U/A:N/C:H/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 System2.3.0, 2.3.3.3.Interim.Fix1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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