Security Bulletin: Due to use of Apache Log4j, IBM Watson Explorer is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution (CVE-2021-44832, CVE-2021-45046) and denial of service (CVE-2021-45105)

Security Bulletin

Summary

Apache Log4j is used by IBM Watson Explorer to log system events for diagnostics. This bulletin provides a remediation for the security vulnerabilities (CVE-2021-44832, CVE-2021-45105, and CVE-2021-45046) by upgrading IBM Watson Explorer to Apache Log4j v2.17.1.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID: CVE-2021-44832
DESCRIPTION: Apache Log4j could allow a remote attacker with permission to modify the logging configuration file to execute arbitrary code on the system. By constructing a malicious configuration using a JDBC Appender with a data source referencing a JNDI URI , an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute remote code.
CVSS Base score: 6.6
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/216189 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

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 Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition Foundational Components	12.0.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.8
IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition Analytical Components	12.0.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.8
IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition oneWEX	12.0.0.0, 12.0.0.1 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.8
IBM Watson Explorer Foundational Components	11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3, 11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.12
IBM Watson Explorer Analytical Components	11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3, 11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.12
IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio	12.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3
IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio	11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3, 11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.2

Remediation/Fixes

Affected Products	Affected Versions	How to acquire and apply the fix
IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition Foundational Components	12.0.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.8	Upgrade to Version 12.0.3.9. See Watson Explorer Version 12.0.3.9 Foundational Components for download information and instructions.
IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition Analytical Components	12.0.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.8	Upgrade to Version 12.0.3.9. See Watson Explorer Version 12.0.3.9 Analytical Components for download information and instructions.
IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition oneWEX	12.0.0.0, 12.0.0.1, 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.8	Upgrade to Version 12.0.3.9. See Watson Explorer Version 12.0.3.9 oneWEX for download information and instructions.
IBM Watson Explorer Foundational Components	11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3, 11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.12	Upgrade to Version 11.0.2.13. See Watson Explorer Version 11.0.2.13 Foundational Components for download information and instructions.
IBM Watson Explorer Analytical Components	11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3, 11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.12	Upgrade to Version 11.0.2.13. See Watson Explorer Version 11.0.2.13 Analytical Components for download information and instructions.
IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio	12.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3	If you have not already installed, install Version 12.0.3. For information about Version 12.0.3, and links to the software and release notes, see the download document. Download the interim fix from Fix Central: 12.0.3.0-WS-WatsonExplorer-DAEAnalytical-CAStudio-IF002. To apply the fix, follow the steps below. Delete `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins\com.hp.hpl.jena_2.11.0` folder Extract the interim fix zip file to the `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins` folder Run command `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\studio.exe -clean` in Command Prompt
IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio	11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3, 11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.2	If you have not already installed, install Version 11.0.2.2. For information about Version 11.0.2, and links to the software and release notes, see the download document. For information about upgrading, see the upgrade procedures.For information about Version 11.0.2.2, see the download document. Download the interim fix from Fix Central: 11.0.2.2-WS-WatsonExplorer-AEAnalytical-CAStudio-IF002. To apply the fix, follow the steps below. Delete `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins\com.hp.hpl.jena_2.11.0` folder Extract the interim fix zip file to the `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins` folder Run command `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\studio.exe -clean` in Command Prompt

Workarounds and Mitigations

None

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References

Complete CVSS v3 Guide
On-line Calculator v3

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Change History

14 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:
14 January 2022

Initial Publish date:
14 January 2022

UID

ibm16540528

Tips

Security Bulletin: Due to use of Apache Log4j, IBM Watson Explorer is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution (CVE-2021-44832, CVE-2021-45046) and denial of service (CVE-2021-45105)