CVE-2020-4983

Arbitrary command execution via forged authentication tokens

Published Jan 20, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Improper authentication in IBM Spectrum LSF 10.1 and Spectrum LSF Suite 10.2 allows remote authenticated users to run arbitrary commands. The eauth mechanism uses a key shared across installations and fails to verify that the requester owns the identity named in a token request. Job-submission privileges and local-network access are required; forged tokens enable impersonation of other cluster users, including root.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authentication in IBM Spectrum LSF 10.1 and Spectrum LSF Suite 10.2 allows remote authenticated users to run arbitrary commands. The eauth mechanism uses a key shared across installations and fails to verify that the requester owns the identity named in a token request. Job-submission privileges and local-network access are required; forged tokens enable impersonation of other cluster users, including root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4983
Published
Jan 20, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Spectrum LSF Suites
Classifications
CWE-798, CWE-287, T1078
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 20, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=10.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Spectrum LSF Suitesversion=10.2
IBM · IBM Spectrum LSFversion=10.1

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8IBM SupportCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.4IBM Corporation CNACVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1078Valid Accounts

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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