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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29859: IBM ICP4A - User Management System Component (IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation V21.0.3 through V21.0.3...

IBM ICP4A - User Management System Component (IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation V21.0.3 through V21.0.3-IF008, V21.0.2 through V21.0.2-IF009, and V21.0.1 through V21.0.1-IF007) could allow a user with physical access to the system to perform unauthorized actions or obtain sensitive information due to insufficient validation and recvocation another user logouting out. IBM X-Force ID: 206081.

LowCVSS 3.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This low-severity IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation issue affects the ICP4A user management system. A person with physical access to the system could perform unauthorized actions or obtain limited sensitive information because validation around user logout or revocation behavior was insufficient.

Executive priority

Treat this as a low-priority remediation unless affected systems are physically accessible to untrusted users. It should be handled in normal patch cycles, with faster action for shared environments or weak facility controls.

Technical view

CVE-2021-29859 is scored CVSS 3.0 3.5 with physical attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and low confidentiality and integrity impact. IBM identifies Cloud Pak for Business Automation versions 18.0.0 through 21.0.3 as affected, with advisory details tied to specific 21.0.x interim-fix ranges.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation deployments using the listed versions, especially where systems or consoles can be physically accessed. The source bundle does not establish broad internet exposure.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector requires physical access and lists exploit maturity as unproven. The source bundle says CISA KEV is false, and no cited source in the bundle claims active exploitation.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to IBM and CVE records. The affected description contains wording ambiguity around logout or revocation behavior, so validation should focus on version and component presence rather than inferred exploit mechanics.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation deployments and installed interim-fix levels.
  • Review IBM advisory node 6578583 for the official fixed level or interim fix.
  • Prioritize remediation where physical access controls are weak or shared systems are used.
  • Restrict physical access to affected systems until vendor guidance is applied.
  • Monitor IBM X-Force ID 206081 for any advisory changes.

Validation and detection

  • Compare installed product versions against IBM's affected version ranges.
  • Confirm whether the ICP4A user management component is deployed.
  • Check interim-fix levels against the IBM advisory, not only the base version.
  • Review access-control records for unexpected user-management activity.
  • Document physical-access controls for systems hosting the affected component.
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-2021-29859 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Low
CVSS
3.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/A:N/AV:P/PR:N/AC:L/C:L/I:L/UI: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
3.5CVSS 3.0LowCVSS:3.0/S:U/A:N/AV:P/PR:N/AC:L/C:L/I:L/UI:N/RC:C/E:U/RL:O0.92.5Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

3.5Low
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29859Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/A:N/AV:P/PR:N/AC:L/C:L/I:L/UI: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
IBMCloud Pak for Business Automation18.0.0, 18.0.1, 18.0.2, 19.0.1, 19.0.2, 19.0.3, 20.0.1, 20.0.2, 20.0.3, 21.0.1, 21.0.2, 21.0.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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