CVE-2021-39048 : Security Advisory and Response

IBM Spectrum Protect Client 7.1 and 8.1 are vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, leading to a denial of service attack. This CVE was published on December 10, 2021.

Understanding CVE-2021-39048

IBM Spectrum Protect Client versions 7.1 and 8.1 are affected by a critical vulnerability that could be exploited by a local attacker to carry out a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2021-39048?

Vulnerability Type: Stack-based Buffer Overflow
Attack Vector: Local
CVSS Base Score: 6.2 (Medium Severity)
Impact: Denial of Service
CVE Published Date: December 10, 2021

The Impact of CVE-2021-39048

The CVE-2021-39048 vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Protect Client versions 7.1 and 8.1 has the following impact:

Affected versions: 7.1, 8.1
Attack Complexity: Low
Availability Impact: High
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven

Technical Details of CVE-2021-39048

This section provides in-depth technical details of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is due to improper bounds checking in IBM Spectrum Protect Client 7.1 and 8.1, leading to a stack-based buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Spectrum Protect
Affected Versions: 7.1, 8.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker to trigger a stack-based buffer overflow and cause a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate action to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-39048.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM
Monitor security bulletins for updates

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch IBM Spectrum Protect Client
Implement strong access controls

Patching and Updates

Apply the official fix released by IBM to address the vulnerability