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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20488: IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.2 could allow an authenticated malicious user to change the passwords of...

IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.2 could allow an authenticated malicious user to change the passwords of other users in the Windows AD environment when IBM Security Identity Manager Windows Password Synch Plug-in is deployed and configured. IBM X-Force ID: 197789.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.2 can let an authenticated malicious user change other users' Windows Active Directory passwords when the Windows Password Synch Plug-in is deployed and configured. That creates direct account takeover risk in affected AD environments.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority where ISIM 6.0.2 controls AD password synchronization. The business risk is unauthorized password change and account takeover inside the identity environment, not broad internet-wide exposure based on available evidence.

Technical view

The CVE describes an authenticated, network-reachable privilege-impact issue in IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.2 involving the Windows Password Synch Plug-in and Windows AD. CVSS 3.0 score is 7.5 high, with low privileges required, no user interaction, high attack complexity, and high integrity/availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.2 environments that have the Windows Password Synch Plug-in deployed and configured against Windows Active Directory. The source bundle does not identify other affected versions or products.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires authenticated access and the relevant plug-in configuration, but successful abuse could change other users' AD passwords.

Researcher notes

Evidence is concise and vendor-centered. The key exposure condition is the Windows Password Synch Plug-in being deployed and configured. No CWE is provided in the bundle, and no exploit details or affected versions beyond 6.0.2 are identified.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.2 deployments.
  • Check whether Windows Password Synch Plug-in is deployed and configured.
  • Review IBM support bulletin remediation before changing production systems.
  • Prioritize vendor-supported fixes or configuration changes for affected AD-integrated environments.
  • Restrict and monitor authenticated access to identity-management functions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory ISIM version and plug-in deployment status.
  • Confirm affected systems integrate with Windows Active Directory.
  • Review AD password-change audit logs for unexpected actor-to-target patterns.
  • Verify IBM support guidance has been applied where applicable.
  • Test remediation in staging before production rollout.
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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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.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-20488 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/C:H/PR:L/UI:N/A:H/S:U/AC:H/I:H/E:U/RL:O/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
7.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/C:H/PR:L/UI:N/A:H/S:U/AC:H/I:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C1.65.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20488Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/C:H/PR:L/UI:N/A:H/S:U/AC:H/I:H/E:U/RL:O/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
IBMSecurity Identity Manager6.0.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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