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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38926: IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 could all...

IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 could allow a local user to gain privileges due to allowing modification of columns of existing tasks. IBM X-Force ID: 210321.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a local privilege escalation flaw in IBM Db2. A user who already has local access could modify columns of existing Db2 tasks and gain higher privileges. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but it matters for systems where many users, applications, or administrators share host or database access.

Executive priority

Treat this as a medium-priority infrastructure hygiene item. Patch affected Db2 systems in the normal vulnerability cycle, faster where untrusted users or many service accounts have local access.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38926 affects IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows, including Db2 Connect Server, versions 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on servers running affected IBM Db2 LUW or Db2 Connect Server versions where local users or service accounts can interact with Db2 task management. Internet exposure alone is not the key factor; local account control is.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS exploit maturity is unproven. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges, so risk increases after credential compromise, shared hosting, or weak separation between application and database service accounts.

Researcher notes

The bundle does not list a CWE or detailed fixed builds. Analysis should stay anchored to IBM guidance. The key exposure condition is local authenticated access, with high integrity impact from modification of existing Db2 task columns.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory guidance and apply the relevant Db2 fix or update.
  • Inventory Db2 LUW and Db2 Connect Server versions across all hosts.
  • Restrict local shell, service account, and Db2 administrative access to trusted users.
  • Review NetApp advisory if Db2 is present through NetApp-supported environments.
  • Monitor Db2 task changes for unexpected modification of existing task columns.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any environment runs Db2 versions 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, or 11.5.
  • Verify the installed Db2 fix level against IBM support guidance.
  • Check which users and service accounts have local access to Db2 hosts.
  • Review audit or administrative logs for unusual Db2 task definition changes.
  • Confirm compensating controls limit local privilege escalation paths.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
5

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-2021-38926 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/S:U/AV:L/C:N/AC:L/I:H/UI:N/A:N/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
4Source 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
5.5CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:L/S:U/AV:L/C:N/AC:L/I:H/UI:N/A:N/RL:O/E:U/RC:C1.83.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38926Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/S:U/AV:L/C:N/AC:L/I:H/UI:N/A:N/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
IBMDB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows10.5, 10.1, 9.7, 11.1, 11.5Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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