CVE-2021-38873Network attack vector

Remote command execution via unvalidated CSV contents

Published Nov 24, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

CSV injection in IBM Planning Analytics 2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via crafted CSV files. The CSV content validation path accepts formula-like or otherwise malicious fields without adequate neutralization before downstream processing. Remote authenticated users must deliver the crafted CSV and induce victim interaction; successful processing can execute commands with the service's privileges, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability1.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

CSV injection in IBM Planning Analytics 2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via crafted CSV files. The CSV content validation path accepts formula-like or otherwise malicious fields without adequate neutralization before downstream processing. Remote authenticated users must deliver the crafted CSV and induce victim interaction; successful processing can execute commands with the service's privileges, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38873
Published
Nov 24, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Planning Analytics
Classifications
CWE-74, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 24, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Planning Analyticsversion=2.0

Published CVSS scores

6.8IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.9IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo