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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29779: IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 could allow an attacker to obtain sensitive information due to the server perfo...

IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 could allow an attacker to obtain sensitive information due to the server performing key exchange without entity authentication on inter-host communications using man in the middle techniques. IBM X-Force ID: 203033.

MediumCVSS 5.9Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 could expose sensitive information if an attacker can position themselves between QRadar hosts. The issue is unauthenticated key exchange on inter-host communications, making confidentiality the main concern.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate-priority confidentiality risk for affected QRadar environments. Prioritize remediation where QRadar hosts communicate across shared or less-controlled networks.

Technical view

CVE-2021-29779 affects IBM QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4. Inter-host communications perform key exchange without entity authentication, enabling man-in-the-middle techniques to obtain sensitive information. CVSS 3.0 is 5.9, with high confidentiality impact, high attack complexity, and no integrity or availability impact listed.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in QRadar SIEM 7.3 or 7.4 deployments where an attacker could access the network path between QRadar hosts.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The CVSS vector marks exploit maturity as unproven and attack complexity as high.

Researcher notes

The evidence identifies unauthenticated key exchange on inter-host communications, but the supplied bundle does not include exact fixed versions or detailed mitigation steps. Avoid assuming broader IBM product exposure.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6520484 and X-Force ID 203033 for vendor remediation guidance.
  • Apply IBM-provided fixes or upgrades where the advisory identifies them.
  • Identify and prioritize all QRadar SIEM 7.3 and 7.4 instances.
  • Limit untrusted access to networks carrying QRadar inter-host communications.
  • Monitor vendor guidance for any updated remediation or affected-version details.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory QRadar SIEM versions and confirm whether 7.3 or 7.4 is present.
  • Check IBM advisory 6520484 for applicable fixes for each deployment.
  • Confirm QRadar inter-host communications do not traverse untrusted network segments.
  • Review network monitoring for unexpected intermediary systems on QRadar host paths.
  • Document compensating controls if vendor remediation cannot be applied immediately.
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

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CVE-2021-29779 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/AC:H/I:N/PR:N/A:N/C:H/UI:N/AV:N/S:U/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
5.9CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AC:H/I:N/PR:N/A:N/C:H/UI:N/AV:N/S:U/RC:C/E:U/RL:O2.23.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.9Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29779Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:H/I:N/PR:N/A:N/C:H/UI:N/AV:N/S:U/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
IBMQRadar SIEM7.3, 7.4Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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