CVE-2023-45173 : Security Advisory and Response

A detailed overview of the IBM AIX denial of service vulnerability, CVE-2023-45173.

Understanding CVE-2023-45173

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the CVE-2023-45173 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-45173?

The IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 systems are susceptible to a vulnerability that could be exploited by a non-privileged local user to trigger a denial of service through the NFS kernel extension.

The Impact of CVE-2023-45173

The vulnerability poses a medium-level threat with a CVSS base score of 6.2. Attack complexity is low, but the availability impact is high, potentially leading to service disruption.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-45173

In this section, the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-45173 vulnerability are discussed.

Vulnerability Description

IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 systems are affected by a flaw in the NFS kernel extension, allowing unauthorized local users to exploit it for a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects IBM AIX versions 7.2 and 7.3, as well as VIOS version 3.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a non-privileged local user to manipulate the NFS kernel extension, leading to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-45173.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure regular monitoring and apply relevant security updates to IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 systems to address the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict access controls, user permissions, and network segmentation to reduce the risk of unauthorized access and potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security advisories from IBM and apply patches promptly to secure the systems against known vulnerabilities.