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CVE Record

CVE-2021-39020: IBM Guardium Data Encryption (GDE) 4.0.0.7 and lower stores sensitive information in URL parameters.

IBM Guardium Data Encryption (GDE) 4.0.0.7 and lower stores sensitive information in URL parameters. This may lead to information disclosure if unauthorized parties have access to the URLs via server logs, referrer header or browser history. IBM X-Force ID: 213855.

LowCVSS 2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Guardium Data Encryption may place sensitive data in web URLs. If those URLs are later exposed through logs, referrer headers, or browser history, an unauthorized person with access to those records could see the data. The public record rates this as low severity.

Executive priority

Handle through normal vulnerability management unless the product protects high-value data or logs are broadly accessible. Prioritize confirmation and vendor guidance over emergency response.

Technical view

CVE-2021-39020 is an information disclosure issue in IBM Guardium Data Encryption. The bundle states GDE 4.0.0.7 and lower store sensitive information in URL parameters. CVSS is 2.0, with low confidentiality impact and no integrity or availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant where IBM Guardium Data Encryption is deployed and URL records are retained or accessible in server logs, proxies, SIEM, browser history, or referrer flows.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation. Abuse would depend on access to captured URLs, not direct compromise evidence from the provided sources.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to IBM and CVE records. The description says 4.0.0.7 and lower, while bundle affected metadata also lists 4.0.0 and 5.0.0; verify exact applicability with IBM.

Mitigation direction

  • Check IBM advisory for the vendor-supported fixed version or configuration guidance.
  • Inventory deployed IBM Guardium Data Encryption versions and maintenance levels.
  • Restrict access to web, proxy, application, SIEM, and support logs containing URLs.
  • Review log retention and redaction for sensitive URL parameters.
  • Avoid sharing raw URLs from affected systems in tickets or emails.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether IBM Guardium Data Encryption is present in the environment.
  • Compare installed versions against IBM's advisory and the CVE record.
  • Review logs for sensitive values appearing in URL query parameters.
  • Check proxy and referrer logging paths for affected application URLs.
  • Verify log access is limited to approved administrators only.
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-2021-39020 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
Low
CVSS
2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
2CVSS 3.0LowCVSS:3.0/C:L/PR:H/UI:R/AV:N/S:U/A:N/AC:H/I:N/RC:C/RL:O/E:U0.51.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

2Low
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2021-39020Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
IBMGuardium Data Encryption4.0.0, 5.0.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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