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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38870: IBM Aspera Cloud is vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting.

IBM Aspera Cloud is vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 208343.

MediumCVSS 6.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Aspera Cloud had a stored cross-site scripting flaw that could let an authenticated user place JavaScript into the Web UI. In a trusted session, that script could change page behavior and potentially expose credentials. The business risk is meaningful for organizations using Aspera Cloud for sensitive file workflows, but the source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate-priority remediation item for Aspera Cloud environments, especially where sensitive files or privileged users are involved. It does not justify emergency response based on the provided evidence, but it should be tracked to vendor remediation closure.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38870 is a stored XSS issue in IBM Aspera Cloud. The CVSS 3.0 score is 6.4 with network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact, and no availability impact. IBM associates it with X-Force ID 208343. The bundle does not provide affected build ranges or detailed remediation steps.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations using IBM Aspera Cloud. The CVSS vector indicates an attacker needs low privileges, so risk is highest where many users can create or edit Web UI content that other trusted users view.

Exploitation context

The source bundle marks KEV as false and does not cite active exploitation. The CVSS temporal vector includes official remediation and high exploit maturity indicators, but that is not evidence of real-world exploitation by itself.

Researcher notes

Key gaps are affected version or tenant scope, exact fixed version, and concrete mitigation instructions. Do not assume on-premises Aspera products are affected from this bundle. Validation should focus on IBM Aspera Cloud usage, stored-content paths, permissions, and vendor advisory status.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6491603 and X-Force 208343 for current vendor guidance.
  • Apply IBM-provided remediation or service updates if available for your tenant.
  • Limit content-editing privileges in Aspera Cloud to trusted users where possible.
  • Review saved Web UI content for unexpected script-like entries.
  • Monitor for unusual session, credential, or account activity.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether your organization uses IBM Aspera Cloud.
  • Check IBM advisory 6491603 for affected service details and remediation status.
  • Verify tenant or service status with IBM support or administrative records.
  • Review audit logs for suspicious Web UI content changes.
  • Assess whether low-privileged users can store content viewed by higher-trust users.
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-2021-38870 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
6.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
6.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/C:L/PR:L/I:L/A:N/AV:N/S:C/AC:L/UI:N/RL:O/E:H/RC:C3.12.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38870Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
IBMAsperaCloudListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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