How severe is CVE-2021-38949?

CVE-2021-38949 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2021-38949 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (5th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-38949?

CVE-2021-38949 primarily affects Ibm Mq. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-38949?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2021-38949 published?

CVE-2021-38949 was published on 2021-11-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-38949

CVE-2021-38949 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Ibm Mq with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. 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-312.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 2.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (5th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-312
Affected product: Ibm Mq
Published: 2021-11-16
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

IBM MQ 7.5, 8.0, 9.0 LTS, 9.1 CD, and 9.1 LTS stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 211403.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-38949?: IBM MQ 7.5, 8.0, 9.0 LTS, 9.1 CD, and 9.1 LTS stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 211403.
How severe is CVE-2021-38949?: CVE-2021-38949 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2021-38949 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (5th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-38949?: CVE-2021-38949 primarily affects Ibm Mq. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-38949?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2021-38949 published?: CVE-2021-38949 was published on 2021-11-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:a:ibm:mq:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:mq:*:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:mq:*:*:*:*:continuous_delivery:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:websphere_mq:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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