CVE-2020-4492 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

IBM Spectrum Scale versions 4.2.0.0 to 4.2.3.21 and 5.0.0.0 to 5.0.4.3 are vulnerable to a local attacker causing a denial of service by sending invalid arguments.

Understanding CVE-2020-4492

This CVE involves a vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Scale that could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-4492?

CVE-2020-4492 is a vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Scale versions 4.2.0.0 to 4.2.3.21 and 5.0.0.0 to 5.0.4.3 that allows a local attacker to crash the kernel by sending specific ioctls with invalid arguments.

The Impact of CVE-2020-4492

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.2 (Medium severity) with a high impact on availability. It could result in a denial of service attack.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-4492

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Scale allows a local attacker to crash the kernel by sending a subset of ioctls with invalid arguments.

Affected Systems and Versions

IBM Spectrum Scale versions 4.2.0.0 to 4.2.3.21
IBM Spectrum Scale versions 5.0.0.0 to 5.0.4.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker sending specific ioctls with invalid arguments, leading to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-4492 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate an attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch IBM Spectrum Scale to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest patches and security updates from IBM.