CVE-2019-4088 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Protect Servers 7.1 and 8.1 and Storage Agents could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system.

Understanding CVE-2019-4088

This CVE involves a flaw in IBM Spectrum Protect Servers and Storage Agents that could be exploited by a local attacker to escalate privileges on the system.

What is CVE-2019-4088?

The vulnerability arises when a specially crafted library is loaded by the dsmqsan module, enabling a local attacker to potentially achieve root access on the affected system.

The Impact of CVE-2019-4088

CVSS Base Score: 7.4 (High)
CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:H/C:H/PR:N/A:H/S:U/AC:H/AV:L/UI:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
The vulnerability has a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with no privileges required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-4088

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows a local attacker to load a specially designed library, potentially leading to root access on the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Products: Spectrum Protect
Affected Versions: 7.1, 8.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating the specially crafted library loaded by the dsmqsan module.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-4088 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or privilege escalation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch IBM Spectrum Protect Servers and Storage Agents.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential attack surfaces.
Conduct security training for personnel to recognize and respond to potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running IBM Spectrum Protect are updated with the latest security patches and fixes.