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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38959: IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows 24.0, 25.0, 26.0, 27.0, 27.0.1, and 28.0 could allow a local user to cause...

IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows 24.0, 25.0, 26.0, 27.0, 27.0.1, and 28.0 could allow a local user to cause a denial of service by writing arbitrary files to admin protected directories on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 212046.

MediumCVSS 6.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This vulnerability affects IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. A local user could cause a denial of service by writing arbitrary files into admin-protected directories. It is a moderate operational risk where shared workstations, lab machines, or managed desktop fleets run affected SPSS versions.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate desktop availability issue. It is unlikely to drive emergency response without exploitation evidence, but shared SPSS systems should be inventoried and remediated through IBM guidance.

Technical view

CVE-2021-38959 covers IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows 24.0, 25.0, 26.0, 27.0, 27.0.1, and 28.0. The CVSS 3.0 score is 6.2, with local attack vector, low complexity, no user interaction, and high availability impact. The record describes denial of service, not confidentiality loss or code execution.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Windows endpoints where affected IBM SPSS Statistics versions are installed, especially multi-user systems or environments where non-admin local users can access SPSS installations.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and this CVE is not listed as KEV. Evidence supports local denial-of-service risk only; it does not support remote exploitation or public weaponization claims.

Researcher notes

The public description is narrow and does not provide root cause, affected components, exploit details, or specific fixed builds in the supplied bundle. Avoid expanding impact beyond local denial of service unless IBM advisory details confirm more.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Windows systems for affected IBM SPSS Statistics versions.
  • Review IBM advisory guidance for fixed versions or workarounds.
  • Restrict local access to systems running affected SPSS versions.
  • Monitor protected directories for unexpected file creation events.
  • Prioritize remediation on shared or business-critical analytics workstations.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed SPSS Statistics version on Windows endpoints.
  • Compare detected versions against 24.0 through 28.0 affected range.
  • Check whether vendor remediation has been applied.
  • Review endpoint logs for abnormal writes to admin-protected directories.
  • Validate local user access controls on shared SPSS systems.
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-2021-38959 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/PR:N/AV:L/I:N/A:H/C:N/UI:N/AC:L/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
6.2CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/S:U/PR:N/AV:L/I:N/A:H/C:N/UI:N/AC:L/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.53.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.2Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38959Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/PR:N/AV:L/I:N/A:H/C:N/UI:N/AC:L/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
IBMSPSS Statistics24.0, 27.0.1, 25.0, 26.0, 27.0, 28.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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