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CVE-2021-38950: IBM MQ on HPE NonStop 8.0.4 and 8.1.0 is vulnerable to a privilege escalation attack when SharedBindingsUse...

IBM MQ on HPE NonStop 8.0.4 and 8.1.0 is vulnerable to a privilege escalation attack when SharedBindingsUserId is set to effective. IBM X-ForceID: 211404.

HighCVSS 7.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This issue affects IBM MQ for HPE NonStop 8.0.4 and 8.1.0 when SharedBindingsUserId is set to effective. A local attacker could escalate privileges and compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The public bundle does not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority where IBM MQ on HPE NonStop is business-critical. Prioritize confirming affected versions and configuration, then apply IBM guidance. Risk is narrower than internet-facing flaws but impact could be severe on exposed systems.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38950 is a local privilege escalation in IBM MQ for HPE NonStop tied to the SharedBindingsUserId effective configuration. CVSS 3.0 is 7.4 High, with local attack vector, high complexity, no user interaction, and high CIA impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running IBM MQ on HPE NonStop versions 8.0.4 or 8.1.0 with SharedBindingsUserId set to effective.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates local access, high attack complexity, no required privileges, and no user interaction. CISA KEV is false, and the bundle does not cite known active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The source bundle provides affected versions, condition, CVSS, and IBM references, but not detailed root cause or patch identifiers. Avoid assuming other MQ platforms are affected. Validate only against IBM MQ for HPE NonStop 8.0.4 and 8.1.0.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory guidance for official fixes or required maintenance levels.
  • Upgrade or patch affected MQ for HPE NonStop deployments per IBM instructions.
  • Evaluate whether SharedBindingsUserId can be changed from effective under vendor guidance.
  • Restrict local access to HPE NonStop systems running IBM MQ.
  • Monitor IBM MQ and HPE NonStop administrative access for abnormal activity.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory HPE NonStop systems running IBM MQ.
  • Confirm whether MQ version is 8.0.4 or 8.1.0.
  • Check SharedBindingsUserId configuration for effective.
  • Verify installed fix level against IBM advisory requirements.
  • Review access logs for unexpected local MQ or system activity.
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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-38950 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
High
CVSS
7.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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/PR:N/AC:H/C:H/S:U/I:H/AV:L/A:H/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O1.45.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.4High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38950Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
IBMMQ for HPE NonStop8.1.0, 8.0.4Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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