Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This IBM WebSphere Application Server flaw could let a remote, already-authenticated low-privilege user gain higher privileges. The business risk is meaningful where WebSphere hosts sensitive applications, but the provided scoring indicates high attack complexity and no known active exploitation evidence.
Executive priority
Treat as a scheduled remediation item, escalated for externally reachable or sensitive WebSphere deployments. It is not supported by the provided sources as an emergency active-exploitation issue.
Technical view
CVE-2021-29736 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0. CVSS 3.0 score is 5.0 with network attack vector, low privileges required, no user interaction, high complexity, and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments running affected IBM WebSphere Application Server versions. Risk is higher where authenticated user access exists broadly or WebSphere-hosted applications handle sensitive business workflows.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. IBM X-Force tracks the issue as ID 201300. The CVSS vector indicates exploit maturity is unproven and official remediation exists.
Researcher notes
Key constraints are PR:L and AC:H, so validation should focus on authenticated attack surface and affected version presence. The bundle provides no CWE, root-cause detail, or exploit narrative, limiting deeper technical assessment.
Mitigation direction
- Review IBM advisory 6476678 for affected-version-specific remediation.
- Apply IBM-provided fix packs or interim fixes for your deployed WebSphere version.
- Restrict WebSphere access to trusted users and networks where operationally possible.
- Audit low-privilege WebSphere accounts and remove unnecessary access.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WebSphere Application Server versions across production and non-production systems.
- Confirm whether versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, or 9.0 are present.
- Check patch or fix-pack level against IBM advisory 6476678.
- Review authentication and access controls for WebSphere-managed applications.
- Monitor vendor advisories for any exploitation-status changes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-2021-29736 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/S:U/C:L/AC:H/UI:N/I:L/A:L/PR:L/E:U/RC:C/RL:O
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/S:U/C:L/AC:H/UI:N/I:L/A:L/PR:L/E:U/RC:C/RL:O1.63.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
5MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/S:U/C:L/AC:H/UI:N/I:L/A:L/PR:L/E:U/RC:C/RL:O
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6476678CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- ibm-was-cve202129736-priv-escalation (201300)CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_XF
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.