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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20490: IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.8 could allow a local user to cause a denial of service due t...

IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.8 could allow a local user to cause a denial of service due to insecure file permission settings. IBM X-Force ID: 197791.

MediumCVSS 4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw affects IBM Spectrum Protect Plus versions 10.1.0 through 10.1.8. Because of insecure file permission settings, a local user could cause a denial of service. The business impact is service disruption, not data theft, based on the provided CVSS metrics.

Executive priority

Treat as a routine backup-platform hardening item unless affected systems are shared or broadly accessible locally. Prioritize remediation during normal maintenance because backup service availability is operationally important.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20490 is a local availability vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus caused by insecure file permissions. The CVSS 3.0 score is 4.0, with local attack vector, low complexity, no user interaction, no confidentiality or integrity impact, and low availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.8 installations where a local user can access the affected system. The source bundle does not indicate remote exploitation.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the provided data, and the CVSS exploit maturity is unproven. No cited source in the bundle states active exploitation or public weaponization.

Researcher notes

The provided evidence identifies the cause as insecure file permission settings but does not include affected file paths, proof-of-concept details, or exact fixed version text. Avoid assuming broader IBM product exposure beyond Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.8.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify IBM Spectrum Protect Plus deployments and versions.
  • Check IBM advisory guidance for the fixed or recommended level.
  • Apply IBM-provided updates or mitigations where applicable.
  • Limit local access to backup infrastructure hosts.
  • Review local account access for unnecessary users.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed Spectrum Protect Plus version.
  • Check whether any deployment runs 10.1.0 through 10.1.8.
  • Review IBM advisory status for required remediation.
  • Validate local file permissions against vendor guidance.
  • Document remediation or accepted risk decisions.
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-2021-20490 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 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:N/AC:L/S:U/C:N/AV:L/UI:N/PR:N/A:L/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
4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/I:N/AC:L/S:U/C:N/AV:L/UI:N/PR:N/A:L/RL:O/E:U/RC:C2.51.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20490Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:N/AC:L/S:U/C:N/AV:L/UI:N/PR:N/A:L/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
IBMSpectrum Protect Plus10.1.0, 10.1.8Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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