CVE-2021-38981Network attack vector

Unauthenticated information disclosure via detailed browser errors

Published Nov 15, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Information disclosure in IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, 4.1, and 4.1.1 allows remote attackers to read sensitive data. The web interface returns detailed technical error messages to the browser, exposing internal details; IBM has not identified the affected handler or triggering input. No authentication or user interaction is required, and the disclosed information can support follow-on attacks but does not directly alter data or service availability.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability1.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, 4.1, and 4.1.1 allows remote attackers to read sensitive data. The web interface returns detailed technical error messages to the browser, exposing internal details; IBM has not identified the affected handler or triggering input. No authentication or user interaction is required, and the disclosed information can support follow-on attacks but does not directly alter data or service availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38981
Published
Nov 15, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager
Classifications
CWE-209, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 15, 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=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

5.3IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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-209Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information
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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