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Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in Apache Log4j affects IBM Spectrum Scale (CVE-2021-44228)

Security Bulletin


Summary

A vulnerability in Apache Log4j could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system. This library is used by the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of IBM Spectrum Scale for logging. This vulnerability may affect IBM Spectrum Scale.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:   CVE-2021-44228
DESCRIPTION:   Apache Log4j could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by the failure to protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints by JNDI features. By sending a specially crafted code string, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to load arbitrary Java code on the server and take complete control of the system. Note: The vulnerability is also called Log4Shell or LogJam.
CVSS Base score: 10
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/214921 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

Affected Product(s)Version(s)
IBM Spectrum Scale5.0.5.0 - 5.0.5.11
IBM Spectrum Scale5.1.0.0 - 5.1.2.1
IBM Spectrum Scale on AWS MarketplaceSpectrum Scale 5.0.5.3 BYOL v1.3.1
IBM Spectrum Scale container native storage accessAll versions

Remediation/Fixes

IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability by installing the Spectrum Scale version specific efix:

Note : If the following line “LOG4J_FORMAT_MSG_NO_LOOKUPS=true” was added to /etc/sysconfig/gpfsgui to mitigate the log4j issue, then remove the line.

1.) For IBM Spectrum Scale:

  • For IBM Spectrum Scale V5.0.5.0 - V5.0.5.11 and Spectrum Scale 5.0.5.3 BYOL v1.3.1, reference APAR IJ36567
  • For IBM Spectrum Scale V5.1.0 - V5.1.2.1 and for Spectrum Scale 5.0.5.3 BYOL v1.3.1 (if IBM Spectrum Scale version was upgraded to V5.1.0 and above) , reference APAR IJ36566

 

  • Spectrum Scale 5.1.2.x versions of the efix are available here.
  • Spectrum Scale 5.1.1.x versions of the efix are available here:
  • Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.x versions of the efix are available here:
  • Spectrum Scale 5.0.5.x versions of the efix are available here:

 

2.) For IBM Spectrum Scale container native storage access environments:

       To resolve the CVE, apply the updated container native operator manifest file to pull and apply the new GUI container images built with log4j-2.16.
       The updated manifests can be found at: https://github.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native 
       The updated container images are available via IBM Cloud Container Registry.
 
        For CNSA v5.1.0.1 and 5.1.0.3
  • Upgrade to a newer release of IBM Spectrum Scale container native storage access.
 
        For CNSA v5.1.1.1
          Operator, GUI container images, and the generated operator manifest files have been updated.
 
 
         For CNSA v5.1.1.3, v5.1.1.4, v5.1.2.1
           GUI container image and the generated operator manifest files have been updated.
 

         1.Apply the generated operator manifest file to get the new digests for GUI

         2.Restart the operator pod: 

  • oc delete pod $(oc get pods -lapp.kubernetes.io/name=operator -n ibm-spectrum-scale-operator -o json | jq -r '.items[0].metadata.name') -n ibm-spectrum-scale-operator

 

Workarounds and Mitigations

None

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References

Complete CVSS v3 Guide
On-line Calculator v3

Off

Related Information

IBM Secure Engineering Web Portal
IBM Product Security Incident Response Blog

Acknowledgement

Change History

16 Dec 2021: Initial Publication

*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.

Disclaimer

Review the IBM security bulletin disclaimer and definitions regarding your responsibilities for assessing potential impact of security vulnerabilities to your environment.

Document Location

Worldwide

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Document Information

Modified date:
22 December 2021

UID

ibm16528108

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