How severe is CVE-2021-38955?

CVE-2021-38955 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-38955 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (12th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-38955?

CVE-2021-38955 primarily affects Ibm Vios. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-38955?

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

When was CVE-2021-38955 published?

CVE-2021-38955 was published on 2022-03-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-38955

CVE-2021-38955 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Ibm Vios with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.4)
CVSS v2: 2.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (12th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Ibm Vios
Published: 2022-03-01
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a local user with elevated privileges to cause a denial of service due to a file creation vulnerability in the audit commands. IBM X-Force ID: 211825.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-38955?: IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a local user with elevated privileges to cause a denial of service due to a file creation vulnerability in the audit commands. IBM X-Force ID: 211825.
How severe is CVE-2021-38955?: CVE-2021-38955 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.4, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-38955 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (12th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-38955?: CVE-2021-38955 primarily affects Ibm Vios. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-38955?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2021-38955 published?: CVE-2021-38955 was published on 2022-03-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:a:ibm:vios:3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:aix:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:aix:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:aix:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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