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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29754: IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 is vulnerable to a privilege escalation vulnerabili...

IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 is vulnerable to a privilege escalation vulnerability when using the SAML Web Inbound Trust Association Interceptor (TAI). IBM X-Force ID: 202006.

MediumCVSS 4.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-29754 is a privilege escalation issue in IBM WebSphere Application Server when SAML Web Inbound Trust Association Interceptor is used. A successful attacker could gain more access than intended, but the CVSS data indicates low privileges are required and attack complexity is high.

Executive priority

Medium priority. Address in normal vulnerability remediation cycles, with faster handling for exposed or business-critical WebSphere environments using SAML TAI. The main business concern is unauthorized privilege gain, but available evidence does not show active exploitation.

Technical view

IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 are affected when using SAML Web Inbound TAI. The CVSS 3.0 score is 4.2 with network attack vector, low privileges required, no user interaction, high complexity, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in WebSphere Application Server deployments on versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, or 9.0 where SAML Web Inbound TAI is configured. Systems not using that SAML TAI path are not identified as affected in the supplied sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. The CVSS vector lists exploit code maturity as unproven. Treat this as a configuration-dependent privilege escalation risk, not as a confirmed exploited-in-the-wild emergency.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are configuration-specific exposure and incomplete public technical detail in the bundle. The affected condition is SAML Web Inbound TAI use. Do not broaden scope beyond IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 without vendor evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory node 6462627 for official remediation guidance.
  • Apply IBM-provided fixes or updates applicable to the deployed WebSphere version.
  • Prioritize internet-facing or high-trust SAML TAI deployments.
  • Restrict administrative access while remediation is planned.
  • Document any compensating controls if upgrades are delayed.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory WebSphere Application Server versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0.
  • Confirm whether SAML Web Inbound TAI is enabled.
  • Compare installed fix levels against IBM advisory guidance.
  • Review access-control assumptions for users authenticated through SAML TAI.
  • Check security logs for unexpected privilege changes or authorization anomalies.
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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-29754 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
4.2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/AC:H/AV:N/C:L/UI:N/PR:L/I:L/A:N/RC:C/E:U/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
4.2CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/S:U/AC:H/AV:N/C:L/UI:N/PR:L/I:L/A:N/RC:C/E:U/RL:O1.62.5Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.2Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29754Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/AC:H/AV:N/C:L/UI:N/PR:L/I:L/A:N/RC:C/E:U/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
IBMWebSphere Application Server7.0, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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