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CVE Record

CVE-2021-29861: IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in EFS to...

IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in EFS to expose sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 206085.

MediumCVSS 6.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This vulnerability could let someone with local access to affected IBM AIX or VIOS systems expose sensitive information through EFS. It is not described as remotely exploitable. Business urgency is highest for systems with local users, shared administration, or sensitive data protected by EFS.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate confidentiality risk. Patch during the next appropriate maintenance window, sooner for shared or sensitive systems where local users could access AIX or VIOS hosts.

Technical view

CVE-2021-29861 is an IBM AIX and VIOS EFS information disclosure issue. CVSS 3.0 score is 6.2 with AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating local attack, low complexity, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 systems, especially where EFS is present and local access is available. The sources do not indicate network attack exposure.

Exploitation context

The provided data does not show active exploitation. KEV is false, and the CVSS vector lists exploit maturity as unproven. The issue requires local attack conditions and is focused on sensitive information disclosure, not integrity or availability impact.

Researcher notes

Public details are limited in the provided bundle. Do not assume exploit availability or affected versions beyond AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1. Validation should focus on version exposure, EFS usage, local access paths, and IBM advisory status.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory node 6516786 for official fix guidance.
  • Apply IBM-provided fixes or updates for affected AIX and VIOS systems.
  • Limit local shell access to trusted users only.
  • Prioritize systems storing sensitive data with EFS.
  • Monitor local account activity on affected hosts.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory AIX 7.1, AIX 7.2, and VIOS 3.1 hosts.
  • Confirm whether EFS is enabled or used on each host.
  • Check IBM advisory applicability against installed levels.
  • Verify vendor fixes are installed after maintenance.
  • Review local user access for unnecessary accounts.
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-2021-29861 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
6.2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/PR:N/S:U/I:N/C:H/A:N/UI:N/AC:L/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
6.2CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/PR:N/S:U/I:N/C:H/A:N/UI:N/AC:L/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.53.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.2Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-29861Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

CWE details

No CWE listed

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