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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38982: IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 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: 212791.

MediumCVSS 5.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-38982 is a cross-site scripting issue in IBM Tivoli/Security Key Lifecycle Manager. An authenticated user could place JavaScript into the Web UI, potentially changing what another trusted session sees and exposing credentials or sensitive session data.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority remediation for key management environments. The issue needs authenticated access and user interaction, but the affected product manages sensitive cryptographic operations, so exposure should be reduced and vendor guidance checked promptly.

Technical view

IBM reports stored or reflected Web UI XSS affecting Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 family releases. CVSS is 5.4: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact, no availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running affected IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager versions with accessible Web UI users. Risk increases where multiple administrators or operators use the console and where the UI is reachable from broad internal networks.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. IBM X-Force assigns exploit maturity high in the CVSS vector, but that is not the same as evidence of exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Do not assume unauthenticated exploitation. The source data supports authenticated Web UI XSS with possible credential disclosure in trusted sessions. Fixed version details are not included in the bundle; rely on IBM advisory content for exact remediation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory 6516042 for fixed levels or official mitigation guidance.
  • Inventory IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager versions against the affected release list.
  • Restrict Web UI access to trusted administration networks and users.
  • Review administrative accounts and remove unnecessary low-privilege Web UI access.
  • Monitor IBM X-Force entry 212791 for updated remediation details.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any SKLM/TKLM instance runs affected 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, or 4.1 releases.
  • Verify Web UI exposure from internal, VPN, and management network segments.
  • Check whether IBM advisory fixes or mitigations have been applied.
  • Review Web UI audit logs for suspicious changes by authenticated users.
  • Confirm credential-handling controls for administrators using the affected UI.
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-2021-38982 mapping review

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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/C:L/AV:N/PR:L/S:C/I:L/A:N/AC:L/RL:O/RC:C/E:H

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/C:L/AV:N/PR:L/S:C/I:L/A:N/AC:L/RL:O/RC:C/E:H2.32.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38982Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
IBMSecurity Key Lifecycle Manager3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, 3.0.0.4, 3.0.1.5, 4.0.0.3, 4.1, 4.1.0.1, 4.1.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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