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CVE Record

CVE-2021-20565: IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.4.0.0, 1.5.0.0, 1.5.0.1, 1.6.0.0, and 1.6.0.1 uses a protection mechani...

IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.4.0.0, 1.5.0.0, 1.5.0.1, 1.6.0.0, and 1.6.0.1 uses a protection mechanism that relies on the existence or values of an input, but the input can be modified by an untrusted actor in a way that bypasses the protection mechanism. IBM X-Force ID: 199236.

MediumCVSS 4.6Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cloud Pak for Security had a protection check that could be bypassed because it relied on input an untrusted actor could change. The public data indicates limited impact: some integrity and availability risk, no stated confidentiality impact, and user interaction is required.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate remediation item. It is not presented as actively exploited, but CP4S is a security platform, so affected instances should be inventoried and remediated through IBM guidance within normal patch governance.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20565 affects IBM Cloud Pak for Security 1.4.0.0, 1.5.0.0, 1.5.0.1, 1.6.0.0, and 1.6.0.1. The flaw is an improper protection mechanism based on modifiable input. CVSS 3.0 is 4.6 with adjacent-network attack vector, no privileges, required user interaction, and low integrity and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations running the listed IBM CP4S versions, especially where adjacent-network access to the relevant interface is possible. The source bundle does not identify affected components beyond CP4S.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires adjacent-network access and user interaction, with exploit maturity marked unproven.

Researcher notes

Public detail is limited. No CWE is supplied in the bundle. Do not infer affected endpoints or exploit technique beyond IBM’s description: a protection mechanism can be bypassed by modifying untrusted input.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify any IBM CP4S deployments running the listed affected versions.
  • Review IBM advisory node 6453115 and apply its listed remediation.
  • Check IBM X-Force entry 199236 for vendor-specific update details.
  • Limit adjacent-network access to CP4S administrative or user-facing interfaces.
  • Monitor IBM guidance for any revised affected-version or fix information.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm CP4S version is not one of the listed affected releases.
  • Verify IBM advisory remediation is documented in change records.
  • Review access controls around CP4S network exposure.
  • Check vulnerability scanner findings against the exact CP4S version.
  • Confirm no unsupported assumptions were made about unlisted IBM products.
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-2021-20565 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.6 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:N/UI:R/AC:L/I:L/C:N/A:L/AV:A/S:U/RC:C/RL:O/E:U

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
4.6CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:N/UI:R/AC:L/I:L/C:N/A:L/AV:A/S:U/RC:C/RL:O/E:U2.12.5Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.6Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20565Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:N/UI:R/AC:L/I:L/C:N/A:L/AV:A/S:U/RC:C/RL:O/E:U

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 Security1.4.0.0, 1.6.0.0, 1.5.0.1, 1.5.0.0, 1.6.0.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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