CVE-2021-38933Network attack vector

Sensitive-data decryption via weak cryptographic algorithms

Published Jul 19, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2024

Weak cryptography in IBM Sterling Connect:Express for UNIX 1.5 allows remote attackers to decrypt sensitive transferred information. IBM has not disclosed the affected algorithm, protocol, key handling, code locus, or erroneous cryptographic operation. The attack is unauthenticated over a network but requires high-complexity conditions and affects confidentiality only.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak cryptography in IBM Sterling Connect:Express for UNIX 1.5 allows remote attackers to decrypt sensitive transferred information. IBM has not disclosed the affected algorithm, protocol, key handling, code locus, or erroneous cryptographic operation. The attack is unauthenticated over a network but requires high-complexity conditions and affects confidentiality only.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38933
Published
Jul 19, 2023
Updated
Oct 21, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Sterling Connect:Express for UNIX
Classifications
CWE-327
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 19, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 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=1.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Sterling Connect:Express for UNIXversion=1.5

Published CVSS scores

5.9IBM CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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-327Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm

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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