Security Bulletin
Summary
IBM Sterling External Authentication Server is vulnerable to denial of service and arbitrary code execution due to Apache Log4j, which is used for logging (CVE-2021-45105,CVE-2021-45046). The fix includes Apache Log4j 2.17.0.
Vulnerability Details
CVEID: CVE-2021-45105
DESCRIPTION: Apache Log4j is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the failure to protect from uncontrolled recursion from self-referential lookups. A remote attacker with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data could craft malicious input data that contains a recursive lookup to cause a StackOverflowError that will terminate the process.
Note: The vulnerability is also called LOG4J2-3230.
CVSS Base score: 7.5
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/215647 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)
CVEID: CVE-2021-45046
DESCRIPTION: Apache Log4j could result in remote code execution, caused by an incomplete fix of CVE-2021-44228 in certain non-default configurations. When the logging configuration uses a non-default Pattern Layout with a Context Lookup, an attacker with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data can craft malicious input data using a JNDI Lookup pattern to leak sensitive information and remote code execution in some environments and local code execution in all environments.
CVSS Base score: 9
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/215195 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)
Affected Products and Versions
| Affected Product(s) | Version(s) |
| IBM Sterling External Authentication Server | 6.0.3 |
| IBM Sterling External Authentication Server | 6.0.2 |
Remediation/Fixes
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.
See the Fix Central links below for Apache Log4j 2.17.0 jar files and installation instructions for an immediate remediation of the vulnerabilities prior to full iFixes for the associated releases.
| Product | VRMF | Remediation |
| IBM Sterling External Authentication Server | 6.0.3 | Fix Central - 6030 |
| IBM Sterling External Authentication Server | 6.0.2 | Fix Central - 6030 |
The Fix Central - 6030 link points to a fix called SSP-SEAS-log4j-2.17.0-jars-for-CVE-2021-45105 which supplies the jars and instructions to replace them. This fix remediates CVE-2021-44228, CVE-2021-45046, and CVE-2021-45105.
Workarounds and Mitigations
None
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References
Change History
04 Jan 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
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:
04 January 2022
Initial Publish date:
04 January 2022
UID
ibm16538102