LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2021-20577: IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.5.0.0 and 1.5.0.1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.5.0.0 and 1.5.0.1 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: 199281.

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cloud Pak for Security 1.5.0.0 and 1.5.0.1 have a cross-site scripting flaw in the Web UI. A successful attack could run JavaScript in a trusted user session and may expose credentials or alter UI behavior. The public bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate-priority enterprise application fix. It is not reported as actively exploited in the supplied sources, but it affects a security platform and can threaten trusted-session credentials, so remediation should be scheduled promptly.

Technical view

CVE-2021-20577 is an XSS issue affecting IBM CP4S 1.5.0.0 and 1.5.0.1. IBM describes arbitrary JavaScript embedding in the Web UI. CVSS 3.0 is 4.3 with no privileges required, high attack complexity, adjacent attack vector, required user interaction, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running IBM Cloud Pak for Security 1.5.0.0 or 1.5.0.1, especially where the Web UI is reachable by users beyond tightly controlled admin networks.

Exploitation context

The bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector includes exploit maturity High, but that is not proof of real-world exploitation. User interaction and high complexity reduce broad opportunistic risk.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on affected CP4S Web UI deployments and IBM advisory remediation status. Avoid assuming broader IBM Cloud Pak products are affected. Evidence in the bundle does not include CWE mapping, exploit details, or a specific fixed version.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory for the official fix or documented workaround.
  • Upgrade affected CP4S versions according to IBM guidance.
  • Restrict CP4S Web UI access to trusted administrative networks.
  • Monitor CP4S sessions for suspicious credential prompts or unexpected UI behavior.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory CP4S deployments and confirm product version numbers.
  • Check whether any instance runs CP4S 1.5.0.0 or 1.5.0.1.
  • Verify IBM remediation has been applied where affected versions exist.
  • Confirm Web UI exposure is limited to intended trusted users.
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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-20577 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
4.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:N/AC:H/AV:A/I:L/C:L/UI:R/A:N/S:C/RC:C/RL:O/E:H1.22.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-20577Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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 Security1.5.0.1, 1.5.0.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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