# CVE-2021-38927: IBM Aspera Console cross-site scripting

> Attackers can inject JavaScript into the IBM Aspera Console web interface to steal credentials or alter functionality within trusted sessions.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Dec 2023
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jfmg-667v-4gmf

## What is CVE-2021-38927?

CVE-2021-38927 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in IBM Aspera Console, published on 25 Dec 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM Aspera Console 3.4.0 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:  210322.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38927?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Aspera Console.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38927?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38927 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-38927 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38927 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM Aspera Console

- [CVE-2025-13379](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-13379/): A SQL Injection vulnerability has been addressed in IBM Aspera Console (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2022-43842](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43842/): IBM Aspera Console SQL injection (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2021-38963](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38963/): IBM Aspera Console CSV injection (high 8.0)
- [CVE-2022-43851](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43851/): IBM Aspera Console information disclosure (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2022-43847](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43847/): IBM Aspera Console HTTP header injection (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38927 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38927 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in IBM Aspera Console, published on 25 Dec 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38927 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM Aspera Console. 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-2021-38927/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38927/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38927
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38927
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38927

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38927/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.