CVE-2021-38993 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability, identified as CVE-2021-38993, affects IBM AIX versions 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1. This flaw could be exploited by a non-privileged local user to cause a denial of service through the smbcd daemon.

Understanding CVE-2021-38993

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE-2021-38993 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-38993?

IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 are susceptible to exploitation by a non-privileged local user to trigger a denial of service incident via the smbcd daemon. The assigned IBM X-Force ID for this vulnerability is 212962.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38993

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity with a CVSS v3.0 base score of 6.2. The attack complexity is low, leveraging a local attack vector with high availability impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38993

This section highlights the technical details associated with CVE-2021-38993.

Vulnerability Description

CVE-2021-38993 allows a non-privileged local user to exploit the smbcd daemon in IBM AIX and VIOS, leading to a denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include IBM AIX versions 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a non-privileged local user.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2021-38993 is crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to apply the official fixes provided by IBM to address this vulnerability promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security practices, such as regular system updates and access controls, can enhance overall system security.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by IBM to safeguard your systems from potential exploits.