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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38966: IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 21.0.2 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 21.0.2 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 212357.

MediumCVSS 5.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 21.0.2 has a cross-site scripting flaw in its Web UI. An authenticated user could place JavaScript into the interface, changing what other users see and potentially exposing credentials inside a trusted session.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority remediation for affected IBM automation environments. It is not cited as actively exploited, but credential exposure inside trusted sessions can create follow-on business risk.

Technical view

The CVE describes stored or embedded JavaScript execution in the IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 21.0.2 Web UI. CVSS 3.0 is 5.4, with network access, low attack complexity, required user interaction, low privileges, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 21.0.2, especially where the Web UI is reachable by many internal users or administrators.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires low privileges and user interaction, but successful abuse could affect trusted sessions and credential handling.

Researcher notes

Evidence identifies IBM Cloud Pak for Automation 21.0.2 only. The bundle does not provide affected subcomponents, exact vulnerable fields, or fixed versions. Validate against IBM’s advisory and avoid assuming other Cloud Pak versions are affected.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM’s advisory for the official remediation for Cloud Pak for Automation 21.0.2.
  • Apply the vendor-provided fix or upgrade path; do not rely on partial UI filtering alone.
  • Restrict Web UI access to trusted users and networks until remediation is complete.
  • Review suspicious UI content, unexpected credential prompts, and anomalous session activity.
  • Rotate credentials if session or credential exposure is suspected.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Cloud Pak for Automation deployments and confirm whether version 21.0.2 is present.
  • Verify the IBM advisory remediation is applied and documented.
  • Confirm Web UI exposure is limited to authorized users and networks.
  • Review application logs and reports for suspicious script-like content or altered UI behavior.
  • Track this CVE separately from broader XSS backlog because credentials may be exposed in-session.
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-2021-38966 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
Medium
CVSS
5.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:R/AC:L/AV:N/A:N/S:C/PR:L/C:L/I:L/E:H/RL:O/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
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
5.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/UI:R/AC:L/AV:N/A:N/S:C/PR:L/C:L/I:L/E:H/RL:O/RC:C2.32.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38966Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:R/AC:L/AV:N/A:N/S:C/PR:L/C:L/I:L/E:H/RL:O/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
IBMCloud Pak for Automation21.0.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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