CVE-2021-38983Network attack vector

Sensitive-information decryption via weak cryptographic algorithms

Published Nov 15, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Inadequate encryption strength in IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 allows attackers to decrypt sensitive information. IBM has not disclosed which stored or transmitted data uses the weak algorithms, the algorithms involved, or where cryptographic operations occur. Exploitation requires high privileges and high-complexity network conditions; successful decryption exposes confidential key-management information without altering data or interrupting service.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.91%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Inadequate encryption strength in IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0, 3.0.1, 4.0, and 4.1 allows attackers to decrypt sensitive information. IBM has not disclosed which stored or transmitted data uses the weak algorithms, the algorithms involved, or where cryptographic operations occur. Exploitation requires high privileges and high-complexity network conditions; successful decryption exposes confidential key-management information without altering data or interrupting service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38983
Published
Nov 15, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager
Classifications
CWE-326
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

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 privilegesadmin

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

7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
3.9IBMCVSS:3.0/C:H/AV:N/UI:N/AC:H/PR:H/I:N/S:U/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
4.4IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-326Inadequate Encryption Strength

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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