CVE-2021-38917 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

IBM PowerVM Hypervisor FW860, FW940, and FW950 are affected by a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to read and write arbitrary host system memory through carefully crafted service procedures. This CVE was published on December 9, 2021.

Understanding CVE-2021-38917

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-38917 vulnerability affecting IBM PowerVM Hypervisor.

What is CVE-2021-38917?

The CVE-2021-38917 vulnerability allows an attacker who gains service access to the FSP to manipulate host system memory through specific service procedures.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38917

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 7.4. It affects confidentiality, integrity, and requires no special privileges from the attacker.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38917

This section outlines technical details and aspects of the CVE-2021-38917 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in IBM PowerVM Hypervisor FW860, FW940, and FW950 enables attackers to read and write arbitrary host system memory, potentially leading to data breaches and system compromise.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include PowerVM Hypervisor versions FW860, FW940, and FW950.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability via network access, making it critical for organizations using these versions to apply necessary security measures.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-38917.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should apply the official fix provided by IBM to address this vulnerability promptly. Network monitoring and access controls can also limit potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing segregation of duties, regular security audits, and employee training on best security practices can enhance long-term security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating the PowerVM Hypervisor to the latest version with security patches is crucial to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.