CVE-2020-4496Network attack vector

Information disclosure via unvalidated workload-agent certificates

Published Dec 13, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Improper certificate validation in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0.0 through 10.1.8.x allows attackers to intercept workload-agent traffic. The server connection accepts a workload agent's certificate without properly validating it, allowing an intermediary to impersonate the agent. An attacker must control a network position between the server and agent; the published impact is disclosure of intercepted data, not alteration or interruption.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.57%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper certificate validation in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0.0 through 10.1.8.x allows attackers to intercept workload-agent traffic. The server connection accepts a workload agent's certificate without properly validating it, allowing an intermediary to impersonate the agent. An attacker must control a network position between the server and agent; the published impact is disclosure of intercepted data, not alteration or interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4496
Published
Dec 13, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
Classifications
CWE-295, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 13, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.1.0.0
  2. Affected versionversion=10.1.8.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Spectrum Protect Plusversion=10.1.0.0; version=10.1.8.0

Published CVSS scores

5.9IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
4.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
6.8IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.9NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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