CVE-2021-38958 : Security Advisory and Response

IBM MQ Appliance 9.2 CD and 9.2 LTS is affected by a denial of service attack caused by a concurrency issue. Find out more about the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies below.

Understanding CVE-2021-38958

This section provides insights into the nature and implications of the identified vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-38958?

CVE-2021-38958 is a denial of service vulnerability affecting IBM MQ Appliance versions 9.2.0.0 through 9.2.3. It is triggered by a concurrency issue, leading to a potential service disruption.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38958

The vulnerability poses a medium severity threat with a CVSS base score of 5.1. Attackers can exploit this flaw to cause a denial of service, impacting the availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38958

In this section, we delve into the specific technical aspects of the CVE and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from a concurrency issue within IBM MQ Appliance 9.2 CD and 9.2 LTS, enabling malicious actors to initiate a denial of service attack targeting the availability of the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

IBM MQ Appliance versions 9.2.0.0, 9.2.1, 9.2.0.1, 9.2.2, 9.2.0.2, 9.2.0.3, and 9.2.3 are confirmed to be impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by adversaries with local access to trigger a denial of service attack, potentially disrupting critical operations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn about the immediate steps to secure your systems and adopt long-term security practices to prevent such vulnerabilities.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to apply official fixes provided by IBM to mitigate the vulnerability. Ensure that systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporate regular security assessments, employee training on identifying suspicious activities, and network monitoring to enhance overall cybersecurity posture.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from IBM and promptly install patches to address known vulnerabilities and protect your systems.