CVE-2021-20485Network attack vector

Information disclosure via detailed browser error messages

Published Sep 23, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Information exposure in IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.1.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to read sensitive data. The web user interface returns an overly detailed technical error in the browser, but IBM has not disclosed the triggering request or exposed data. Low-privileged remote access is required, and the reported consequence is limited to reading information that can support further attacks.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information exposure in IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.1.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to read sensitive data. The web user interface returns an overly detailed technical error in the browser, but IBM has not disclosed the triggering request or exposed data. Low-privileged remote access is required, and the reported consequence is limited to reading information that can support further attacks.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20485
Published
Sep 23, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Sterling File Gateway
Classifications
CWE-209
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 23, 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=2.2.0.0
  2. Affected versionversion=6.1.0.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Sterling File Gatewayversion=2.2.0.0; version=6.1.0.3

Published CVSS scores

4.3IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
3.8IBMCVSS:3.0/PR:L/AV:N/S:U/I:N/C:L/UI:N/AC:L/A:N/RC:C/RL:O/E:U

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-209Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information

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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