CVE-2020-4411 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-4411, a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in IBM's Spectrum Scale affecting versions 4.2.0.0 to 4.2.3.21 and 5.0.0.0 to 5.0.4.3. Find mitigation steps and long-term security practices.
A denial of service vulnerability in IBM's Spectrum Scale file system component could allow a local attacker to crash the kernel, impacting versions 4.2.0.0 to 4.2.3.21 and 5.0.0.0 to 5.0.4.3.
Understanding CVE-2020-4411
This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Spectrum Scale file system component that could lead to a denial of service condition.
What is CVE-2020-4411?
The vulnerability allows a local attacker to trigger a denial of service by using non-valid arguments with a subset of ioctls on the Spectrum Scale device, potentially crashing the kernel.
The Impact of CVE-2020-4411
- CVSS Base Score: 7.1 (High)
- Attack Vector: Local
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Availability Impact: High
- Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
- Privileges Required: None
- User Interaction: None
- Confidentiality Impact: None
- Integrity Impact: None
- Scope: Changed
- Temporal Score: 6.2 (Medium)
Technical Details of CVE-2020-4411
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in the Spectrum Scale file system component allows for a denial of service attack by crashing the kernel.
Affected Systems and Versions
The following versions of Spectrum Scale are affected:
- 4.2.0.0 to 4.2.3.21
- 5.0.0.0 to 5.0.4.3
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit this vulnerability, a local attacker needs to use a subset of ioctls with non-valid arguments on the affected Spectrum Scale device.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the official fix provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate an ongoing attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch the Spectrum Scale software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement strict access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
- Conduct security training for personnel to recognize and respond to security threats effectively.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that all systems running Spectrum Scale are updated with the latest patches and security fixes.