What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-20489?

CVE-2021-20489 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.4%.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2021-20489?

Yes, a patch is available for CVE-2021-20489. Update the affected software to the latest version immediately.

Sterling File Gateway CVE-2021-20489

HIGH

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (CWE-352)

2021-10-07 psirt@us.ibm.com

CSRF IBM Sterling File Gateway

8.8

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-352 OWASP Top 10:2025 A01:2025 - Broken Access Control ASVS 5.0 V3 - Web Frontend Security Anti-CSRF tokens, SameSite cookies MITRE ATT&CK 1 technique across 1 tactic: Initial Access The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. Sign in to read
Impact	CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	A remote attacker could trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

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

Patch available 0.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.1.1.0 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery which could allow an attacker to execute malicious and unauthorized actions transmitted from a user that. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability could allow attackers to trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Implement anti-CSRF tokens, validate Origin/Referer headers, use SameSite cookie attribute.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (CWE-352), which allows attackers to trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions. IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.1.1.0 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery which could allow an attacker to execute malicious and unauthorized actions transmitted from a user that the website trusts. IBM X-Force ID: 197790. Affected products include: Ibm Sterling File Gateway. Version information: through 6.1.1.0.

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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:N/UI:R/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

None

User Interaction

Required

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

DescriptionNVD

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.4%

Top 69% 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 0.4%

Patch available Yes

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: 0

CVSS: +44

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Request Forgery MEDIUM

Cross-Site Request Forgery exploits the automatic credential inclusion behavior of web browsers.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:ibm:sterling_file_gateway:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Same weakness CWE-352 – Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

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CVE-2016-6277 HIGH POC

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CVE-2014-100005 HIGH POC

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6.8

CVE-2020-36836 HIGH POC

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CVE-2015-2295 MEDIUM POC

6.8

CVE-2016-6897 MEDIUM POC

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CVE-2022-41622 HIGH POC

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CVE-2025-2907 CRITICAL POC

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Same technique CSRF

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CVE-2017-9757 HIGH POC

8.8

CVE-2013-4152 MEDIUM POC

6.8

CVE-2024-7094 CRITICAL

9.8

CVE-2015-4624 HIGH POC

7.5

References

Advisories & patches

PATCH https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6496777 ADVISORY https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/197790

Search Externally

GitHub PoC

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