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CVE Record

CVE-2022-33169: IBM Robotic Process Automation 21.0.0, 21.0.1, and 21.0.2 is vulnerable to insufficiently protected credent...

IBM Robotic Process Automation 21.0.0, 21.0.1, and 21.0.2 is vulnerable to insufficiently protected credentials for users created via a bulk upload. IBM X-Force ID: 228888.

MediumCVSS 5.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Robotic Process Automation versions 21.0.0, 21.0.1, and 21.0.2 may insufficiently protect credentials for users created through bulk upload. The main business risk is unauthorized integrity impact involving those accounts, not service outage or data disclosure according to the provided CVSS details.

Executive priority

Schedule this for normal vulnerability remediation unless the affected IBM RPA system supports sensitive automation or privileged workflows. Escalate priority if bulk-upload-created accounts exist, because credential protection issues can undermine trust in automated business processes.

Technical view

CVE-2022-33169 affects IBM Robotic Process Automation 21.0.0 through 21.0.2. The CVSS 3.0 vector indicates network reachability, low privileges required, no user interaction, high attack complexity, no availability or confidentiality impact, and high integrity impact. IBM X-Force tracks it as ID 228888.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to IBM Robotic Process Automation deployments on versions 21.0.0, 21.0.1, or 21.0.2, especially where user accounts were created through bulk upload. Organizations not running those versions or not using that workflow are less likely to be affected.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. The CVSS exploit code maturity is listed as unproven. Treat this as a credible product vulnerability, but do not assume internet-wide exploitation from the provided evidence.

Researcher notes

The provided data does not include CWE mapping, detailed root cause, proof-of-concept information, or exact fixed versions. Researchers should avoid assumptions beyond the affected IBM RPA versions and the bulk-upload credential handling condition stated by IBM/CVE sources.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory IBM Robotic Process Automation versions across all environments.
  • Review IBM advisory node 6608454 for vendor-approved fixes or workarounds.
  • Prioritize remediation for deployments using bulk user upload workflows.
  • Review users created through bulk upload and reset credentials if IBM guidance recommends it.
  • Limit administrative access to IBM RPA until remediation status is confirmed.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any IBM RPA instance runs version 21.0.0, 21.0.1, or 21.0.2.
  • Identify whether bulk upload was used to create user accounts.
  • Check remediation status against IBM advisory and X-Force ID 228888.
  • Verify vulnerable versions are upgraded or otherwise addressed per IBM guidance.
  • Document compensating controls if remediation cannot be completed immediately.
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-2022-33169 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/A:N/C:N/I:H/AC:H/UI:N/AV:N/PR: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
5.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/S:U/A:N/C:N/I:H/AC:H/UI:N/AV:N/PR:L/E:U/RC:C/RL:O1.63.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2022-33169Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/A:N/C:N/I:H/AC:H/UI:N/AV:N/PR: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
IBMRobotic Process Automation21.0.0, 21.0.1, 21.0.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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