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CVE Record

CVE-2021-38985: IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 receives input or data, but it does not validate...

IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager versions 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 have an input-validation flaw. An authenticated user with network access could affect data integrity. The published score is medium, with no stated confidentiality or availability impact.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority remediation for environments relying on IBM key lifecycle management. Prioritize systems protecting sensitive encryption workflows or reachable by broad internal user groups.

Technical view

The CVSS 3.0 vector is 4.3 medium: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and low integrity impact. Sources describe improper or missing validation of input data. No CWE or detailed vulnerable component is provided in the supplied bundle.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager is deployed in listed versions and reachable by authenticated users. Public internet exposure is not stated in the sources.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not indicate active exploitation. CISA KEV status is false, and the CVSS exploit maturity value is unproven. Evidence is incomplete on exploit availability and attack prerequisites beyond low privileges and network access.

Researcher notes

The source detail is sparse: it identifies input validation weakness and CVSS impact but not a specific endpoint, parameter, CWE, or exploit path. Validation should stay version- and configuration-focused unless IBM provides more detail.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory for affected and fixed levels.
  • Upgrade or apply vendor-recommended remediation where applicable.
  • Limit network access to SKLM interfaces to trusted administrators.
  • Review accounts with access to the affected service.
  • Monitor vendor guidance for any updated workaround details.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager deployments and versions.
  • Compare installed levels against IBM affected-version guidance.
  • Confirm whether low-privileged authenticated users can reach SKLM interfaces.
  • Verify remediation by checking the installed fixed level.
  • Review logs for unusual authenticated changes or failed validation events.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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-2021-38985 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
4.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/C:N/S:U/A:N/UI:N/AV:N/PR:L/I:L/AC:L/E:U/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
4.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/C:N/S:U/A:N/UI:N/AV:N/PR:L/I:L/AC:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C2.81.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-38985Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/C:N/S:U/A:N/UI:N/AV:N/PR:L/I:L/AC:L/E:U/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
IBMSecurity Key Lifecycle Manager3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, 3.0.0.4, 3.0.1.5, 4.0.0.3, 4.1.0.1, 4.1.1, 4.1.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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