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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29860: IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in the li...

IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in the libc.a library to expose sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 206084.

MediumCVSS 6.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

An issue in IBM AIX and VIOS libc.a can let a local, non-privileged user see sensitive information. The published data points to confidentiality impact only, not data modification or service outage. It matters most on multi-user AIX/VIOS systems or hosts where untrusted local accounts exist.

Executive priority

Schedule remediation in the normal vulnerability cycle, with faster handling for shared or business-critical AIX and VIOS servers. This is not sourced as actively exploited, but sensitive information exposure on infrastructure hosts deserves timely closure.

Technical view

CVE-2021-29860 affects IBM AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1. The flaw is in libc.a and has CVSS 6.2, with local attack vector, low complexity, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact. Integrity and availability impacts are not indicated.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to affected IBM AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 systems. Risk increases where many users, contractors, service accounts, or compromised applications can run locally on the host.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation evidence. IBM X-Force lists exploit maturity as unproven. Treat this as a local information disclosure risk, not confirmed internet-scale exploitation.

Researcher notes

The source data does not include CWE detail or technical root cause beyond libc.a sensitive information exposure. Avoid assuming remote reachability. Validation should focus on affected OS levels, installed IBM fixes, and whether local execution is available to untrusted users.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory for the affected AIX or VIOS level.
  • Apply IBM-recommended fixes, service packs, or interim fixes.
  • Reduce unnecessary local shell access on affected systems.
  • Prioritize shared, production, and privileged-administration hosts.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 systems.
  • Compare installed maintenance levels with IBM advisory guidance.
  • Confirm whether libc.a updates or interim fixes are installed.
  • Review local account access on affected hosts.
  • Document compensating controls if patching is delayed.
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-2021-29860 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/AC:L/C:H/A:N/I:N/PR:N/AV:L/S:U/RL:O/RC:C/E:U

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
6.2CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:N/AC:L/C:H/A:N/I:N/PR:N/AV:L/S:U/RL:O/RC:C/E:U2.53.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.2Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29860Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/AC:L/C:H/A:N/I:N/PR:N/AV:L/S:U/RL:O/RC:C/E:U

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.