CVE-2018-1993 : Security Advisory and Response

IBM Spectrum Scale (GPFS) versions 4.1.1, 4.2.0, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, and 5.0.0 are affected by a vulnerability related to the Local Read Only Cache (LROC) feature.

Understanding CVE-2018-1993

This CVE involves a potential issue in IBM Spectrum Scale when utilizing the Local Read Only Cache (LROC) feature.

What is CVE-2018-1993?

Versions 4.1.1, 4.2.0, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, and 5.0.0 of IBM Spectrum Scale have a vulnerability that may cause a read operation on a file to retrieve data from a different file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1993

CVSS Score: 4 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Local
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: None
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
Affected Versions: 4.1.1, 4.2.0, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 5.0.0

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1993

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Scale allows a read operation on a file to potentially retrieve data from a different file when using the LROC feature.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Systems: IBM Spectrum Scale (GPFS)
Affected Versions: 4.1.1, 4.2.0, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 5.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited locally, potentially leading to data leakage or unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the Local Read Only Cache (LROC) feature if not essential
Monitor file access and data retrieval for anomalies

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch IBM Spectrum Scale installations
Implement access controls and monitoring mechanisms

Patching and Updates

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.