CVE-2021-38893Network attack vector

Credential disclosure via stored console script execution

Published Dec 21, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Stored XSS in IBM BPM 8.5 and 8.6 and Business Automation Workflow 18.0 through 21.0 allows remote authenticated users to run JavaScript. The Process Admin Console stores user-supplied Web UI content and later renders it without neutralizing active script, causing the payload to execute within a trusted session. Low-privileged access is required to plant the payload; execution can alter Web UI behavior and disclose credentials available to the viewing session.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stored XSS in IBM BPM 8.5 and 8.6 and Business Automation Workflow 18.0 through 21.0 allows remote authenticated users to run JavaScript. The Process Admin Console stores user-supplied Web UI content and later renders it without neutralizing active script, causing the payload to execute within a trusted session. Low-privileged access is required to plant the payload; execution can alter Web UI behavior and disclose credentials available to the viewing session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38893
Published
Dec 21, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation
Classifications
CWE-79, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 21, 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=21.0.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automationversion=21.0.2
IBM · IBM Business Process Manager Standardversion=8.5; version=8.5.0.1; version=8.5.0.2; version=8.5.5; version=8.5.6; version=8.5.6.1; version=8.5.6.2; version=8.5.7; version=8.5.7.CF201606; version=8.5.7.CF201609; version=8.5.7.CF201612; version=8.5.7.CF201703; version=8.5.7.CF201706; version=8.6

Published CVSS scores

6.4IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

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-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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