CVE-2018-1788 : Security Advisory and Response

IBM Spectrum Protect Server versions 7.1 and 8.1 are susceptible to a vulnerability that could expose highly sensitive information to a local privileged user. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for CVE-2018-1788.

Understanding CVE-2018-1788

What is CVE-2018-1788?

IBM Spectrum Protect Server versions 7.1 and 8.1 may inadvertently reveal extremely sensitive data through trace logs to a user with local privileged access.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1788

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 4.1 (Medium severity) with high confidentiality impact. If exploited, it could lead to unauthorized access to critical information.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1788

Vulnerability Description

The issue in IBM Spectrum Protect Server versions 7.1 and 8.1 allows trace logs to expose highly sensitive data to local privileged users.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Spectrum Protect
Vendor: IBM
Affected Versions: 7.1, 8.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: High
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: High
User Interaction: None
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
Restrict access to trace logs to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and review access to sensitive information.
Conduct security training for employees on handling confidential data.

Patching and Updates

Keep IBM Spectrum Protect Server up to date with the latest patches and security updates.