CVE-2021-38977Network attack vector

Session token disclosure via cookies lacking Secure attribute

Published Nov 15, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Missing cookie protection in IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 allows attackers to read session tokens. The application omits the Secure attribute from authorization tokens or session cookies, causing a browser to send them over an attacker-supplied plaintext HTTP link. Exploitation requires user interaction and a network position capable of reading that traffic; the reported consequence is disclosure of the cookie value.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing cookie protection in IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 allows attackers to read session tokens. The application omits the Secure attribute from authorization tokens or session cookies, causing a browser to send them over an attacker-supplied plaintext HTTP link. Exploitation requires user interaction and a network position capable of reading that traffic; the reported consequence is disclosure of the cookie value.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38977
Published
Nov 15, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager
Classifications
CWE-311, T1040
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 15, 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=3.0
  2. Affected versionversion=3.0.0.4
  3. Affected versionversion=3.0.1
  4. Affected versionversion=3.0.1.5
  5. Affected versionversion=4.0
  6. Affected versionversion=4.0.0.3
  7. Affected versionversion=4.1
  8. Affected versionversion=4.1.0.1
  9. Affected versionversion=4.1.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Managerversion=3.0; version=3.0.0.4; version=3.0.1; version=3.0.1.5; version=4.0; version=4.0.0.3; version=4.1; version=4.1.0.1; version=4.1.1

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
4.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
2.7IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
3.1IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/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-311Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
T1040Network Sniffing

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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