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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20540: IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.5.0.0, 1.5.1.0, 1.6.0.0, 1.6.1.0, 1.7.0.0, and 1.7.1.0 could disclose s...

IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.5.0.0, 1.5.1.0, 1.6.0.0, 1.6.1.0, 1.7.0.0, and 1.7.1.0 could disclose sensitive information to an unauthorized user through HTTP GET requests. This information could be used in further attacks against the system. IBM X-Force ID: 198923.

LowCVSS 2.7Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This IBM Cloud Pak for Security issue may expose sensitive information through HTTP GET requests. The published severity is low, but leaked details could help an attacker plan follow-on activity against a security operations platform.

Executive priority

Treat as a scheduled remediation item unless CP4S is broadly exposed or handles highly sensitive operational data. Prioritize normal patch governance, version validation, and access restriction over emergency response.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20540 affects listed IBM CP4S 1.5.x, 1.6.x, and 1.7.x releases. The issue is information disclosure over HTTP GET. CVSS 3.0 is 2.7 with network access, low complexity, no user interaction, high privileges required, and low confidentiality impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running the affected IBM Cloud Pak for Security versions and reachable HTTP interfaces. Confirm exact version applicability against IBM advisory data because the bundle contains minor-version differences between description and affected fields.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not indicate CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. IBM states the disclosed information could be used in further attacks, but the provided sources do not describe public exploit activity.

Researcher notes

Key uncertainty is version precision: the description lists 1.5.1.0 and 1.6.1.0, while the affected array lists 1.5.0.1 and 1.6.0.1. Use IBM advisory and X-Force entry as authoritative references before closing exposure.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM support advisory 6476940 for the official fix path.
  • Upgrade or patch affected CP4S deployments according to IBM guidance.
  • Limit CP4S HTTP interface access to trusted users and networks.
  • Check logs for unexpected GET requests to sensitive CP4S endpoints.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all IBM Cloud Pak for Security deployments and versions.
  • Compare deployed versions with IBM's affected-version list.
  • Confirm IBM's fix or recommended level is installed.
  • Review access controls protecting CP4S web interfaces.
  • Look for unusual HTTP GET activity around sensitive resources.
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-2021-20540 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Low
CVSS
2.7 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:N/A:N/S:U/C:L/UI:N/PR:H/I:N/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
2.7CVSS 3.0LowCVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:N/A:N/S:U/C:L/UI:N/PR:H/I:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O1.21.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

2.7Low
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20540Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:N/A:N/S:U/C:L/UI:N/PR:H/I:N/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 Security1.6.0.0, 1.5.0.1, 1.5.0.0, 1.6.0.1, 1.7.0.0, 1.7.1.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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