What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-20423?

CVE-2021-20423 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 1.1%.

Cloud Pak For Applications CVE-2021-20423

HIGH

Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource (CWE-732)

2021-07-13 psirt@us.ibm.com

Privilege Escalation IBM Cloud Pak For Applications

8.8

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-732 OWASP Top 10:2025 A01:2025 - Broken Access Control ASVS 5.0 V13 - Configuration Permission assignment review
Impact	CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	A remote attacker could access resources due to misconfigured permissions by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).

No patch listed yet 1.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 could allow an authenticated user gain escalated privilesges due to improper application permissions. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Review and restrict file/resource permissions, apply principle of least privilege.

Affects your stack

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Incorrect Permission Assignment (CWE-732), which allows attackers to access resources due to misconfigured permissions. IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 could allow an authenticated user gain escalated privilesges due to improper application permissions. IBM X-Force ID: 196308. Affected products include: Ibm Cloud Pak For Applications.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH

AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

DescriptionNVD

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 could allow an authenticated user gain escalated privilesges due to improper application permissions. IBM X-Force ID: 196308.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

1.1%

Top 39% exploitable

Data Quality

2 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV No

Public POC No

EPSS 1.1%

Patch available No

Active threat No

Deciding rule

HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

None

System Exposure· derived

Open

Automatable· derived

Human Impact· derived

Medium

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +1

CVSS: +44

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege Escalation HIGH

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.