CVE-2021-38896Network attack vector

Credential disclosure via embedded Web UI JavaScript

Published Oct 20, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Stored cross-site scripting in IBM QRadar Advisor with Watson 2.5 through 2.6.1 allows remote attackers to expose credentials. The Web UI accepts embedded JavaScript in user-controlled content and renders it in a trusted browser session instead of neutralizing the script. Execution requires another user to view the affected content; the injected script then alters interface behavior and exposes credentials available to that session.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stored cross-site scripting in IBM QRadar Advisor with Watson 2.5 through 2.6.1 allows remote attackers to expose credentials. The Web UI accepts embedded JavaScript in user-controlled content and renders it in a trusted browser session instead of neutralizing the script. Execution requires another user to view the affected content; the injected script then alters interface behavior and exposes credentials available to that session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38896
Published
Oct 20, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
QRadar Advisor with Watson
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059.007
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 20, 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=2.5
  2. Affected versionversion=2.6.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · QRadar Advisor with Watsonversion=2.5; version=2.6.1

Published CVSS scores

5.8IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:H/RL:O/RC:C
6.1IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1059.007JavaScript/JScript

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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