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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29671: IBM Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.1 could allow a local attacker to bypass the filesystem audit logging mechanism wh...

IBM Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.1 could allow a local attacker to bypass the filesystem audit logging mechanism when file audit logging is enabled. IBM X-Force ID: 199478.

MediumCVSS 4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is an audit-integrity issue in IBM Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.1. If file audit logging is enabled, a local attacker could avoid that filesystem audit trail, reducing the organization’s ability to prove what happened. The vulnerability does not claim data theft or service outage, but it weakens monitoring and incident reconstruction.

Executive priority

Handle in the normal vulnerability remediation cycle, with higher priority where audit logs support compliance, investigations, or regulated data access monitoring. Business urgency depends on reliance on Spectrum Scale audit logging and exposure to local users.

Technical view

The CVE describes a local security bypass in IBM Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.1 affecting file audit logging. CVSS 3.0 score is 4.0 with local attack vector, low complexity, no user interaction, no confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, and no availability impact. No CWE is listed in the provided sources.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.1 systems where file audit logging is enabled and an attacker has local access. The bundle does not identify other affected versions or products.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. The sources do not state active exploitation, public exploit availability, or weaponized use. Treat this as a control-bypass risk requiring local access, not as confirmed internet-scale exploitation.

Researcher notes

The affected product and version are narrowly stated as IBM Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.1. The impact is bypassing filesystem audit logging when enabled. The bundle does not provide exploit mechanics, fixed versions, workarounds, or expanded affected-version ranges, so do not infer them.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM’s advisory for the official fixed level or workaround.
  • Upgrade IBM Spectrum Scale according to IBM guidance if affected.
  • Restrict local shell and job access on Spectrum Scale nodes.
  • Review compensating audit sources for sensitive filesystem activity.
  • Prioritize systems that rely on file audit logs for compliance evidence.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Spectrum Scale deployments and confirm exact version 5.1.0.1.
  • Verify whether file audit logging is enabled on each deployment.
  • Confirm local user access paths to affected Spectrum Scale nodes.
  • Review audit requirements that depend on Spectrum Scale file logs.
  • Check IBM X-Force and support references for updated remediation details.
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-2021-29671 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/UI:N/I:L/C:N/AC:L/PR:N/A:N/AV:L/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
4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/S:U/UI:N/I:L/C:N/AC:L/PR:N/A:N/AV:L/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.51.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29671Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/UI:N/I:L/C:N/AC:L/PR:N/A:N/AV:L/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
IBMSpectrum Scale5.1.0.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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