CVE-2021-20527Network attack vector

Cross-user code execution via Python script injection

Published Apr 19, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Command injection in IBM Security QRadar SOAR 38.0 allows remote authenticated users with high privileges to execute scripts as another user. The Python 3 Scripting Engine accepts attacker-created malicious scripts and executes them in another user’s security context. Access to a privileged SOAR account is required; exploitation crosses user boundaries and can read or alter data or interrupt the service.

CVSS severity6.0
Medium
EPSS probability1.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in IBM Security QRadar SOAR 38.0 allows remote authenticated users with high privileges to execute scripts as another user. The Python 3 Scripting Engine accepts attacker-created malicious scripts and executes them in another user’s security context. Access to a privileged SOAR account is required; exploitation crosses user boundaries and can read or alter data or interrupt the service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20527
Published
Apr 19, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Security QRadar SOAR
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 19, 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=38.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Security QRadar SOARversion=38.0

Published CVSS scores

6.5NISTAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
5.2IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/S:U/I:H/C:L/PR:H/A:L/AC:L/UI:N/AV:N/RL:O/E:U/RC:C
7.2NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.0IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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