CVE-2021-29873Network attack vector

Authenticated data exposure and disruption via sed escape

Published Oct 21, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Restricted-shell escape in affected IBM storage products allows remote authenticated users to read sensitive data and disrupt service. The restricted shell permits the sed command to escape its command restrictions; IBM has not disclosed the crafted input or invocation sequence. An authenticated system account is required, and public material does not distinguish the exposed data or whether interruption is a crash, hang, or reboot.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Restricted-shell escape in affected IBM storage products allows remote authenticated users to read sensitive data and disrupt service. The restricted shell permits the sed command to escape its command restrictions; IBM has not disclosed the crafted input or invocation sequence. An authenticated system account is required, and public material does not distinguish the exposed data or whether interruption is a crash, hang, or reboot.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29873
Published
Oct 21, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Spectrum Virtualize for Public Cloud
Classifications
T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 21, 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=7.8
  2. Affected versionversion=8.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Spectrum Virtualize for Public Cloudversion=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM Storwize V7000version=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM FlashSystem V9000version=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM Storwize V3500version=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM Storwize V5000version=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM FlashSystem 900version=1.5.2.10; version=1.6.1.4
IBM · IBM SAN Volume Controllerversion=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM Storwize V5100version=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM Storwize V3700version=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM FlashSystem 9100 Familyversion=7.8; version=8.4
IBM · IBM Spectrum Virtualize Softwareversion=7.8; version=8.4

Published CVSS scores

8.1NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
5.5NISTAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:P
8.8IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/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.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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