How severe is CVE-2021-20578?

CVE-2021-20578 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-20578 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (60th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-20578?

CVE-2021-20578 primarily affects Ibm Cloud Pak For Security. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-20578?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-20578 published?

CVE-2021-20578 was published on 2021-09-30 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-20578

CVE-2021-20578 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Ibm Cloud Pak For Security with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-287.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
CVSS v2: 7.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (60th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-287
Affected product: Ibm Cloud Pak For Security
Published: 2021-09-30
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.7.0.0, 1.7.1.0, 1.7.2.0, and 1.8.0.0 could allow an attacker to perform unauthorized actions due to improper or missing authentication controls. IBM X-Force ID: 199282.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-20578?: IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.7.0.0, 1.7.1.0, 1.7.2.0, and 1.8.0.0 could allow an attacker to perform unauthorized actions due to improper or missing authentication controls. IBM X-Force ID: 199282.
How severe is CVE-2021-20578?: CVE-2021-20578 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-20578 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (60th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-20578?: CVE-2021-20578 primarily affects Ibm Cloud Pak For Security. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-20578?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-20578 published?: CVE-2021-20578 was published on 2021-09-30 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (3)

cpe:2.3:a:ibm:cloud_pak_for_security:1.7.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:cloud_pak_for_security:1.7.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:cloud_pak_for_security:1.7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Other CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities

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CVE-2026-56162 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authentication in Azure SQL Database allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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