CVE-2021-20488Network attack vector

Account takeover via undisclosed password synchronization flaw

Published Jun 16, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Account takeover in IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.0 and 6.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to change other users' Windows AD passwords. IBM identifies the affected Password Synchronization Plug-in but does not disclose the faulty function, request field, or authorization check. Exploitation requires an authenticated account and a deployed, configured Windows AD plug-in; success lets the attacker reset other users' directory passwords.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.91%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Account takeover in IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.0 and 6.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to change other users' Windows AD passwords. IBM identifies the affected Password Synchronization Plug-in but does not disclose the faulty function, request field, or authorization check. Exploitation requires an authenticated account and a deployed, configured Windows AD plug-in; success lets the attacker reset other users' directory passwords.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20488
Published
Jun 16, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Security Identity Manager
Classifications
T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 16, 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=6.0.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Security Identity Managerversion=6.0.2

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
3.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N
7.5IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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