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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38948: IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when...

IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 211402.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 can mishandle XML input in a way that may let a remote, low-privileged attacker read sensitive information or consume memory. The business concern is data exposure from affected systems that process XML, plus some availability impact.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for internet-facing or broadly accessible IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 systems. The main risk is sensitive information exposure, with some service-impact potential. Escalate if these systems process regulated, customer, or operationally critical data.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38948 is an XML External Entity injection issue in IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 when processing XML data. CVSS 3.0 is 7.1, network exploitable, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, high confidentiality impact, low availability impact, and no integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 deployments that process XML data, especially where authenticated remote users can reach affected functionality. The bundle does not identify other versions, CPEs, or deployment-specific attack surfaces.

Exploitation context

The provided data says exploitation is unproven and the CVE is not marked KEV. Treat this as a serious exposure risk, but there is no source-bundle evidence of active exploitation or public weaponization.

Researcher notes

The source bundle provides a concise vulnerability description, CVSS vector, affected version, and IBM references, but no CWE mapping, CPEs, detailed fix version, or exploit evidence. Avoid assuming additional affected products or exploitability beyond authenticated network access and XML processing.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6509632 and apply the vendor-recommended official remediation.
  • Inventory IBM InfoSphere Information Server deployments and confirm whether version 11.7 is present.
  • Restrict access to XML-processing interfaces to trusted authenticated users only.
  • Monitor affected systems for unusual memory consumption and sensitive file access indicators.
  • Check IBM X-Force entry 211402 for current vendor guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions against the affected 11.7 entry.
  • Identify workflows or interfaces that accept or process XML data.
  • Verify vendor remediation status from IBM support documentation.
  • Review authentication and network access controls around affected services.
  • Check logs for abnormal XML-processing errors, resource exhaustion, or unexpected outbound access.
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-2021-38948 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/AV:N/PR:L/I:N/A:L/AC:L/C:H/UI:N/RL:O/RC:C/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
7.1CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/S:U/AV:N/PR:L/I:N/A:L/AC:L/C:H/UI:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U2.84.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38948Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/AV:N/PR:L/I:N/A:L/AC:L/C:H/UI:N/RL:O/RC:C/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
IBMInfoSphere Information Server11.7Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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