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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20559: IBM Control Desk 7.6.1.2 and 7.6.1.3 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Control Desk 7.6.1.2 and 7.6.1.3 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 199228.

MediumCVSS 5.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Control Desk 7.6.1.2 and 7.6.1.3 contain a cross-site scripting flaw. An authenticated user could place JavaScript into the web interface, potentially changing what another trusted session sees or exposing credentials. This is a moderate-risk issue, mainly affecting organizations that still run those versions.

Executive priority

Treat this as a scheduled but real remediation item. It is not presented as actively exploited, but credential exposure inside a trusted service-management session could create business impact if broad internal access exists.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20559 is a network-reachable XSS issue in IBM Control Desk. The CVSS 3.0 score is 5.4 with low privileges required, low attack complexity, user interaction required, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact, and no availability impact. No CWE is listed in the supplied sources.

Likely exposure

Organizations still running IBM Control Desk 7.6.1.2 or 7.6.1.3 with authenticated web users are in scope. Exposure increases where the UI is reachable by contractors, customers, or broad internal groups. No other affected products or versions are identified in the supplied sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector requires low privileges and user interaction over the network, so abuse is more plausible after an attacker has an account or can influence a logged-in user.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record, IBM advisory reference, and IBM X-Force ID 199228. The supplied data identifies affected versions and impact, but does not provide exploit details, CWE mapping, or exact fixed versions. Avoid expanding scope beyond IBM Control Desk 7.6.1.2 and 7.6.1.3.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply IBM's vendor-supported fix or remediation from the advisory for the affected Control Desk versions.
  • Restrict IBM Control Desk access to trusted networks and users where operationally possible.
  • Review user roles and remove unnecessary access to the Control Desk web UI.
  • Monitor IBM support guidance for exact fixed versions and any additional workarounds.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Control Desk deployments and identify versions 7.6.1.2 and 7.6.1.3.
  • Confirm whether IBM's advisory remediation has been applied to each affected instance.
  • Review authentication scope for users who can access the Control Desk web UI.
  • Check security logs for suspicious UI changes or script-like content in user-editable fields.
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-2021-20559 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:L/AC:L/AV:N/PR:L/S:C/A:N/C:L/UI:R/RC:C/E:U/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
5.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/I:L/AC:L/AV:N/PR:L/S:C/A:N/C:L/UI:R/RC:C/E:U/RL:O2.32.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20559Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:L/AC:L/AV:N/PR:L/S:C/A:N/C:L/UI:R/RC:C/E:U/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
IBMControl Desk7.6.1.2, 7.6.1.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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