# CVE-2021-20577: Cross-site scripting in Cloud Pak for Security

> Attackers can inject JavaScript into the Web UI to steal credentials from trusted sessions in IBM Cloud Pak for Security.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`CVSS:3.0/PR:N/AC:H/AV:A/I:L/C:L/UI:R/A:N/S:C/RC:C/RL:O/E:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 May 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-prqw-hw6q-8hq7

## What is CVE-2021-20577?

CVE-2021-20577 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Ibm Cloud Pak for Security, published on 10 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.5.0.0 and 1.5.0.1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 199281.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-20577?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Cloud Pak for Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-20577?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-20577 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-20577 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20577 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ibm Cloud Pak for Security

- [CVE-2025-25022](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-25022/): IBM QRadar Suite Software and IBM Cloud Pak for Security information disclosure (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2021-29696](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29696/): Command injection in Cloud Pak for Security (high 8.0)
- [CVE-2025-25021](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-25021/): IBM QRadar Suite Software and IBM Cloud Pak for Security code injection (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2023-47726](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-47726/): IBM QRadar Suite improper input validation (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2022-38385](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38385/): Missing authorization in Cloud Pak for Security (high 7.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-20577 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-20577 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Ibm Cloud Pak for Security, published on 10 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20577 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Ibm Cloud Pak for Security. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20577/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20577/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-20577
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20577
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-20577

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20577/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.