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Security Bulletin: IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty is vulnerable to a denial of service due to Google protobuf-java (CVE-2022-3171, CVE-2022-3509)

Security Bulletin


Summary

There is a vulnerability in the Google protobuf-java library used by IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty with the grpc-1.0 or grpcClient-1.0 feature enabled. This has been addressed.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:   CVE-2022-3171
DESCRIPTION:   protobuf-java core and lite are vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by a flaw in the parsing procedure for binary and text format data. By sending non-repeated embedded messages with repeated or unknown fields, a remote authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause long garbage collection pauses.
CVSS Base score: 5.7
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/238394 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

CVEID:   CVE-2022-3509
DESCRIPTION:   protobuf-java core and lite are vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by a flaw in the parsing procedure for textformat data. By sending non-repeated embedded messages with repeated or unknown fields, a remote authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause long garbage collection pauses.
CVSS Base score: 5.7
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/239915 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

Affected Product(s)Version(s)
IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty21.0.0.2 - 22.0.0.12

Remediation/Fixes

 IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now by applying a currently available interim fix or fix pack that contains the APAR PH50342. To determine if a feature is enabled for IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty, refer to How to determine if Liberty is using a specific feature

For IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty 21.0.0.2 - 22.0.0.12 using the grpc-1.0 or grpcClient-1.0 feature(s): 
· Upgrade to minimal fix pack levels as required by interim fix and then apply Interim Fix PH50342
--OR--
· Apply Liberty Fix Pack 22.0.0.13 or later (targeted availability 4Q2022).

Additional interim fixes may be available and linked off the interim fix download page.

Workarounds and Mitigations

None

Get Notified about Future Security Bulletins

References

Off

To determine if a feature is enabled for IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty, refer to How to determine if Liberty is using a specific feature

Change History

28 Nov 2022: 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

According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES ""AS IS"" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. "Affected Products and Versions" referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.

Document Location

Worldwide

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Document Information

Modified date:
28 November 2022

UID

ibm16841889