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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38911: IBM Security Risk Manager on CP4S 1.7.0.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by...

IBM Security Risk Manager on CP4S 1.7.0.0 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a an authenticatedl privileged user. IBM X-Force ID: 209940.

MediumCVSS 4.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw means IBM Security Risk Manager on Cloud Pak for Security could store user credentials in clear text. A privileged authenticated user could read those credentials. The business risk is credential exposure and possible follow-on misuse, but sources rate it medium because exploitation requires high privileges and high complexity.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority credential exposure issue. Prioritize if affected systems store sensitive integration, administrative, or security-tool credentials, or if many privileged users can access the platform.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38911 is an information disclosure issue in IBM Security Risk Manager on CP4S. The CVSS 3.0 score is 4.4, with network attack vector, high privileges required, high attack complexity, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality impact. Sources do not show active exploitation.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM Cloud Pak for Security deployments using IBM Security Risk Manager in the cited 1.7.x releases. The bundle lists 1.7.2.0 as affected, while the description names 1.7.0.0, so version scope should be confirmed against IBM guidance.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not indicate public exploitation or CISA KEV listing. Any abuse would require an authenticated privileged user and a difficult attack path, but successful access could disclose stored credentials in clear text.

Researcher notes

Evidence is clear on vulnerability type and CVSS scoring, but affected-version detail is inconsistent between the description and affected-product entry. Do not assume broader IBM Cloud Pak exposure without vendor confirmation. No source in the bundle supports active exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6505281 and X-Force 209940 for official remediation guidance.
  • Identify all Cloud Pak for Security deployments using Security Risk Manager.
  • Limit privileged access to trusted administrators only.
  • Rotate exposed or potentially exposed credentials after remediation review.
  • Monitor IBM support channels for fixed levels or compensating controls.

Validation and detection

  • Compare installed CP4S/Security Risk Manager versions with the IBM advisory.
  • Review privileged-user access assignments for unnecessary administrative rights.
  • Check credential storage exposure using IBM-supported administrative procedures.
  • Audit logs for unusual privileged access to credential-related data.
  • Document whether 1.7.0.0, 1.7.2.0, or both are in scope.
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.

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CVE-2021-38911 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:H/AC:H/AV:N/UI:N/I:N/C:H/A:N/S:U/RL:O/E:U/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
4.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:H/AC:H/AV:N/UI:N/I:N/C:H/A:N/S:U/RL:O/E:U/RC:C0.73.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38911Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:H/AC:H/AV:N/UI:N/I:N/C:H/A:N/S:U/RL:O/E:U/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
IBMCloud Pak for Security1.7.2.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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