CVE-2020-4415

IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1 server is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking

Critical · published April 23, 2020

CVSS v3.0
9.8
EPSS
8%
Percentile
94.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🔥 A stack-based buffer overflow in IBM Spectrum Protect could let an attacker run wild with admin-level privileges on your server! 😱 Think of it like a busy restaurant kitchen where the chef accidentally misreads the recipe and adds too much salt, causing a chaotic disaster — that’s what happens when the server doesn’t check its input properly! An attacker could execute arbitrary code, essentially taking complete control of your system, or even cause the Spectrum Protect server to crash unexpectedly. This vulnerability could lead to sensitive data leaks or disruption of critical services, leaving your organization vulnerable and exposed.

Put simply

Think of it like a busy restaurant kitchen where the chef accidentally misreads the recipe and adds too much salt, causing a chaotic disaster — that’s what happens when the server doesn’t check its input properly! This vulnerability arises from improper bounds checking, allowing overflow into adjacent memory space, which could be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the Spectrum Protect server.

What to do

An attacker could execute arbitrary code, essentially taking complete control of your system, or even cause the Spectrum Protect server to crash unexpectedly. This vulnerability could lead to sensitive data leaks or disruption of critical services, leaving your organization vulnerable and exposed. Immediately patch your IBM Spectrum Protect to version 8.1.16 or 8.1.17 to eliminate this risk. Review your security policies and ensure that all user inputs are properly validated to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Don't forget to conduct a thorough security audit afterward! You've got this! With a few swift actions, your server will be secure and ready to protect your data. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.0
9.8 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.0/PR:N/AC:L/AV:N/S:U/I:H/A:H/C:H/UI:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.08052 · 94.8th percentile
Published
2020-04-23T13:10Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 23 APR 13:10Z
    IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1 server is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking
    cvelistv5