Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-29738 is an authenticated server-side request forgery issue in IBM InfoSphere Data Flow Designer within InfoSphere Information Server 11.7. A logged-in attacker may cause the server to send unauthorized requests, which could expose limited internal information or support follow-on attacks. The public bundle does not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate priority unless the affected server can reach sensitive internal systems. Prioritize confirmation and vendor remediation during the next patch cycle, escalating if the service is broadly accessible or highly privileged inside the network.
Technical view
The issue is SSRF with CVSS 3.0 score 5.4, network-accessible, low attack complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact, and no availability impact. IBM identifies it as X-Force ID 201302. Affected product evidence is limited to IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 includes Data Flow Designer access for authenticated users, especially if the server can reach sensitive internal services. Internet exposure is not established by the bundle and should be verified from asset inventory.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided data. The CVSS vector marks exploit maturity as unproven. Sources describe a potential authenticated attack path but do not provide evidence of public exploitation or weaponized tooling.
Researcher notes
Evidence is narrow but consistent: IBM describes SSRF in Data Flow Designer for Information Server 11.7. The bundle does not name a specific patch level, exploit method, or compensating control. Avoid assuming other versions or IBM products are affected without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Review IBM advisory and X-Force entry for official remediation guidance.
- Apply vendor-supported fixes or interim mitigations for affected 11.7 deployments.
- Restrict Data Flow Designer access to trusted authenticated users.
- Review outbound network controls from affected servers to sensitive internal services.
- Monitor server logs for unusual outbound request patterns.
Validation and detection
- Inventory IBM InfoSphere Information Server and confirm any 11.7 deployments.
- Determine whether Data Flow Designer is installed and reachable by users.
- Confirm current fix level against IBM advisory guidance.
- Map which internal networks affected servers can reach outbound.
- Review authentication logs for unusual Data Flow Designer access.
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.
Cloud metadata behavior lookup
The CVE wording references SSRF or metadata access, so cloud discovery and credential material review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-29738 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
- 5.4 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/I:L/A:N/AC:L/C:L/UI:R/S:C/AV:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U
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/PR:L/I:L/A:N/AC:L/C:L/UI:R/S:C/AV:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U2.32.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
5.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/I:L/A:N/AC:L/C:L/UI:R/S:C/AV:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6509084CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- ibm-infosphere-cve202129738-ssrf (201302)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.