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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29741: IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a local user to exploit a vulnerability in Korn Shell (ksh) to g...

IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a local user to exploit a vulnerability in Korn Shell (ksh) to gain root privileges. IBM X-Force ID: 201478.

HighCVSS 8.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw lets someone with local access to affected IBM AIX or VIOS systems gain root privileges through Korn Shell. It is a server-side privilege escalation issue, not a remote internet entry point, but compromise of any local account could become full system control.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for AIX and VIOS estates. It requires local access, but successful exploitation gives root privileges, making it important for infrastructure hosting critical workloads or shared administrative environments.

Technical view

CVE-2021-29741 affects IBM AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1. IBM describes a ksh vulnerability allowing a local user to gain root privileges. CVSS 3.0 is 8.4, with local attack vector, low complexity, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to IBM AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 systems where local users, service accounts, or administrators can access the host shell environment.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. The risk is still material because local access can become root, especially on shared UNIX hosts, VIOS infrastructure, or systems where application accounts are reachable.

Researcher notes

The source bundle identifies affected products and impact, but does not include APAR numbers, package versions, or detailed mitigations. Avoid assuming exploit availability. Use IBM’s advisory and X-Force entry as the authoritative remediation and vulnerability context.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory IBM AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 assets.
  • Review IBM advisory node 6477018 for official fix details.
  • Apply IBM-provided fixes or interim fixes where applicable.
  • Restrict unnecessary local shell access until remediation is complete.
  • Prioritize VIOS and shared administrative hosts.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm each host OS and VIOS version against affected versions.
  • Check installed ksh and system fix levels against IBM guidance.
  • Verify remediation status through IBM-supported inventory or patch tooling.
  • Review privileged account changes and suspicious local activity.
  • Document exceptions with compensating access controls.
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-2021-29741 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
High
CVSS
8.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/S:U/AC:L/UI:N/I:H/PR:N/A:H/C:H/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
8.4CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/S:U/AC:L/UI:N/I:H/PR:N/A:H/C:H/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.55.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.4High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29741Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/S:U/AC:L/UI:N/I:H/PR:N/A:H/C:H/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
IBMVIOS3.1Listed
IBMAIX7.1, 7.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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