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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38917: IBM PowerVM Hypervisor FW860, FW940, and FW950 could allow an attacker that gains service access to the FSP...

IBM PowerVM Hypervisor FW860, FW940, and FW950 could allow an attacker that gains service access to the FSP can read and write arbitrary host system memory through a series of carefully crafted service procedures. IBM X-Force ID: 210018.

HighCVSS 7.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-38917 affects IBM PowerVM Hypervisor firmware FW860, FW940, and FW950. If an attacker obtains service access to the Flexible Service Processor, they may read or write arbitrary host memory. This is serious for IBM Power environments because memory access can expose sensitive data or undermine host integrity.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for IBM Power estates. The likely affected population may be narrow, but arbitrary host memory access can create material confidentiality and integrity risk.

Technical view

IBM describes a high-severity PowerVM Hypervisor issue where crafted service procedures, after gaining service access to the FSP, can read and write arbitrary host system memory. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.4 with high confidentiality and integrity impact, high attack complexity, network vector, and no user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to environments running IBM PowerVM Hypervisor firmware FW860, FW940, or FW950, especially where FSP service access is reachable or weakly controlled.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation appears constrained by the need for FSP service access and high attack complexity.

Researcher notes

Public details are sparse in the bundle. Validate exposure through firmware inventory and FSP access review. Avoid assuming exploit availability, affected versions beyond FW860/FW940/FW950, or exact fixed firmware levels without IBM advisory confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6525010 for fixed firmware levels and service guidance.
  • Update affected FW860, FW940, or FW950 systems according to IBM guidance.
  • Restrict FSP service access to trusted administrators and service channels.
  • Monitor FSP service activity for unexpected or unauthorized procedures.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Power systems and record PowerVM Hypervisor firmware levels.
  • Identify any systems running FW860, FW940, or FW950.
  • Confirm whether FSP service access is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Check vulnerability management tools for CVE-2021-38917 coverage.
  • Compare installed firmware against IBM advisory guidance.
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-2021-38917 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/PR:N/UI:N/I:H/AC:H/C:H/A:N/S:U/RC:C/RL:O/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
7.4CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/PR:N/UI:N/I:H/AC:H/C:H/A:N/S:U/RC:C/RL:O/E:U2.25.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.4High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38917Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/PR:N/UI:N/I:H/AC:H/C:H/A:N/S:U/RC:C/RL:O/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
IBMPowerVM HypervisorFW940, FW950, FW860Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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