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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29694: IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.7 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that cou...

IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.7 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that could allow an attacker to decrypt highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 200258.

MediumCVSS 5.9Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Spectrum Protect Plus versions 10.1.0 through 10.1.7 used weaker cryptography than expected. A network attacker could potentially decrypt highly sensitive information, but the reported attack complexity is high and exploitation is not listed in KEV.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority backup-platform confidentiality issue. Prioritize remediation where Spectrum Protect Plus stores regulated, credential-bearing, or business-critical backup data, especially if management interfaces are reachable from broad networks.

Technical view

CVE-2021-29694 is an IBM Spectrum Protect Plus information disclosure issue tied to weak cryptographic algorithms. CVSS 3.0 score is 5.9, with network attack vector, no privileges or user interaction, high confidentiality impact, and high attack complexity.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to IBM Spectrum Protect Plus deployments running 10.1.0 through 10.1.7. Backup and recovery environments may hold sensitive business data, so affected systems deserve prompt inventory and vendor-guided remediation.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not in CISA KEV. IBM X-Force lists the issue as information disclosure. Available evidence supports confidentiality risk, not integrity or availability impact.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE summary, IBM advisory reference, and IBM X-Force ID 200258. The bundle does not provide exploit details, exact vulnerable algorithms, or a named fixed version, so validation should center on affected-version inventory and IBM guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all IBM Spectrum Protect Plus deployments and versions.
  • Check IBM advisory for the official remediation path and apply it.
  • Restrict network access to Spectrum Protect Plus management interfaces.
  • Review whether exposed secrets or protected data require rotation after remediation.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any deployment runs versions 10.1.0 through 10.1.7.
  • Verify remediated systems no longer match the affected version range.
  • Review IBM advisory and X-Force entry for any updated guidance.
  • Check local access records for unusual access to sensitive backup data.
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-2021-29694 mapping review

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

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.9 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
5.9CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/A:N/S:U/I:N/UI:N/AV:N/C:H/PR:N/AC:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C2.23.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.9Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29694Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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 Protect Plus10.1.0, 10.1.7Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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