CVE-2020-4497Network attack vector

Information disclosure via unencrypted data transfer

Published Dec 14, 2022 · Updated Apr 17, 2025

Cleartext transmission in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.12 allows attackers to read sensitive data in transit. The vSnap-to-application-agent communication flow transfers backup and restore data without transport encryption. A man-in-the-middle position on that network path is required, and the reported consequence is confidentiality loss without data alteration or service interruption.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cleartext transmission in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 through 10.1.12 allows attackers to read sensitive data in transit. The vSnap-to-application-agent communication flow transfers backup and restore data without transport encryption. A man-in-the-middle position on that network path is required, and the reported consequence is confidentiality loss without data alteration or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4497
Published
Dec 14, 2022
Updated
Apr 17, 2025
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
Classifications
CWE-319, T1040
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 17, 2025Record 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 <10.1.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Spectrum Protect Plusversion=10.1.0 <10.1.12

Published CVSS scores

5.9NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
6.8IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-319Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
T1040Network Sniffing

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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