CVE-2013-3993
CVE-2013-3993 is a security flaw in IBM InfoSphere BigInsights. Attackers are using a flaw in IBM InfoSphere BigInsights that its maker hasn't described in detail. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 25 May 2022, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
IBM InfoSphere BigInsights is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff.
Description
CISA calls it an invalid input in IBM InfoSphere BigInsights. In its words: “Certain APIs within BigInsights can take invalid input that might allow attackers unauthorized access to read, write, modify, or delete data.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “IBM InfoSphere BigInsights before 2.1.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended file and directory restrictions, or access untrusted data or code, via crafted parameters in unspecified API calls.”[2]
The underlying weakness is permissions and access control (CWE-264), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 6.5 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it. CISA names the product as IBM InfoSphere BigInsights.
Most families won’t have IBM InfoSphere BigInsights; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 25 May 2022, 2,879 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 15 Jun 2022 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 5%. That’s in the top 9% of the flaws it scores.[3]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
CISA’s required action: “The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.IBM InfoSphere BigInsights is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 15 Jun 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 6.5.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 5%.[3] |
See also
Other IBM flaws
- CVE-2026-9198, IBM Langflow: code injection ·
- CVE-2022-47986, IBM Aspera Faspex: code execution ·
- CVE-2015-7450, IBM WebSphere Application Server and Server Hypervisor Edition: code injection. ·
- CVE-2020-4430, IBM Data Risk Manager: directory traversal ·
- CVE-2020-4428, IBM Data Risk Manager: remote code execution ·
Other permissions and access control flaws
- CVE-2015-3246, Red Hat Libuser: race condition ·
- CVE-2013-0643, Adobe Flash Player: incorrect default permissions ·
- CVE-2016-0165, Microsoft Win32k: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2015-6175, Microsoft Windows: kernel privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2015-1769, Microsoft Windows: mount manager privilege escalation ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2019-3010, Oracle Solaris: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2016-7256, Microsoft Windows: open type font remote code execution ·
- CVE-2016-3393, Microsoft Windows: graphics device interface (GDI) remote code execution ·
- CVE-2016-1010, Adobe Flash Player and AIR: integer overflow ·
- CVE-2016-0984, Adobe Flash Player and AIR: use-after-free ·
Every IBM flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in May 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “IBM InfoSphere BigInsights Invalid Input Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 25 May 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2013-3993 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 7 Jul 2014.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.048, percentile 91.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2013-3993”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.