CVE-2018-1723 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2018-1723 affecting IBM Spectrum Scale versions 4.1.1.0, 4.1.1.20, 4.2.0.0, 4.2.3.10, 5.0.0, and 5.0.1.2. Discover the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
IBM Spectrum Scale versions 4.1.1.0, 4.1.1.20, 4.2.0.0, 4.2.3.10, 5.0.0, and 5.0.1.2 are affected by a vulnerability that could allow an unprivileged authenticated user to view files on a GPFS node.
Understanding CVE-2018-1723
This CVE involves a security issue in IBM Spectrum Scale that could potentially lead to unauthorized access to files on a specific node.
What is CVE-2018-1723?
An unprivileged user with authentication and access to a GPFS node in affected versions of IBM Spectrum Scale may exploit this vulnerability to view files stored on that node.
The Impact of CVE-2018-1723
- CVSS Base Score: 6.2 (Medium Severity)
- Attack Vector: Local
- Confidentiality Impact: High
- Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
- Vector String: CVSS:3.0/A:N/AC:L/AV:L/C:H/I:N/PR:N/S:U/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O
Technical Details of CVE-2018-1723
This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows unauthorized file access on GPFS nodes in the specified versions of IBM Spectrum Scale.
Affected Systems and Versions
- IBM Spectrum Scale 4.1.1.0
- IBM Spectrum Scale 4.1.1.20
- IBM Spectrum Scale 4.2.0.0
- IBM Spectrum Scale 4.2.3.10
- IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.0
- IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.1.2
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by an authenticated unprivileged user with access to a GPFS node to read arbitrary files on that node.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply official fixes provided by IBM.
- Restrict access to vulnerable nodes.
- Monitor file access activities.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch IBM Spectrum Scale installations.
- Implement least privilege access controls.
- Conduct security training for users to prevent unauthorized access.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that all affected versions of IBM Spectrum Scale are updated with the latest patches and security fixes.