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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38863: IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a local...

IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a locally authenticated user. IBM X-Force ID: 208154.

MediumCVSS 6.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0 can store user credentials in cleartext. A person who already has local authenticated access to the host may be able to read those credentials. This is mainly a credential exposure and privilege expansion risk, not a remotely reachable internet flaw based on the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a focused medium-priority credential exposure issue. Prioritize organizations that use IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0 on shared or broadly administered hosts, because stolen credentials can create downstream business risk beyond the affected system.

Technical view

The CVE describes cleartext credential storage in IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0. CVSS 3.0 score is 6.5 with local attack vector, low privileges required, low complexity, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality impact. The source bundle does not claim integrity or availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to environments running IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0. Risk is higher where multiple users have local authenticated access to the bridge host or where endpoint controls allow broad read access to application data.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV is false. Exploitation requires local authenticated access, so this is most relevant after account compromise, insider access, shared administration hosts, or weak local access controls.

Researcher notes

No CWE is listed in the bundle. IBM X-Force ID is 208154. Evidence names only IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0 as affected. The bundle does not provide exploit details, file paths, proof of exploitation, or a named patched version.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory IBM Security Verify Bridge deployments and identify version 1.0.5.0.
  • Review IBM advisory guidance for fixed versions or vendor-approved remediation.
  • Restrict local login and file access on affected bridge hosts.
  • Rotate exposed credentials if cleartext access is confirmed.
  • Monitor privileged access to systems hosting the bridge service.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether IBM Security Verify Bridge 1.0.5.0 is installed.
  • Review vendor documentation for affected storage locations and remediation details.
  • Check which local users can access bridge configuration or data files.
  • Assess whether any credentials stored by the bridge require rotation.
  • Review host access records for suspicious local activity.
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-2021-38863 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/S:C/I:N/A:N/C:H/AV:L/PR:L/AC:L/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
6.5CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:N/S:C/I:N/A:N/C:H/AV:L/PR:L/AC:L/RC:C/E:U/RL:O24Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.5Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38863Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/S:C/I:N/A:N/C:H/AV:L/PR:L/AC:L/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
IBMSecurity Verify Bridge1.0.5.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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