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Security Bulletin: IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 is susceptible to Tampering and Elevation of Privilege due to the use of AIX NIM

Security Bulletin


Summary

The use of AIX NIM exposes IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 to vulnerabilities identified as CVE-2024-56346 and CVE-2024-56347, making it susceptible to tampering and privilege escalation attacks. These weaknesses in AIX could be exploited by a remote attacker to execute unauthorized commands.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:   CVE-2024-56346
DESCRIPTION:   IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 nimesis NIM master service could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands due to improper process controls.
CWE:   CWE-114: Process Control
CVSS Source:   psirt@us.ibm.com
CVSS Base score:   10
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)

CVEID:   CVE-2024-56347
DESCRIPTION:   IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 nimsh service SSL/TLS protection mechanisms could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands due to improper process controls.
CWE:   CWE-114: Process Control
CVSS Source:   psirt@us.ibm.com
CVSS Base score:   9.6
CVSS Vector:   (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

Affected Product(s)Version(s)
IBM System Storage Virtualization Engine TS77003957-VED
IBM System Storage Virtualization Engine TS77003948-VED
IBM System Storage Virtualization Engine TS77003948-VEF

All versions of microcode for the IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 (3957-VED, 3948-VED and 3948-VEF) prior to and including the following are affected:

Machine TypeModelReleaseVersion
3957VEDR5.48.54.2.17
R6.08.60.0.115
3948VEDR5.48.54.2.17
R6.08.60.0.115
3948VEFR6.08.60.0.115

Note: End of Development (EoD) support was announced for 3957-VEC, effective 31 December 2023, after which time no more code fixes will be provided. Please see https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/2023-hardware-maintena

Remediation/Fixes

IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now by visiting https://tape.ibmrcl.enterpriseappointments.com/v2/ or contacting IBM Service at 1-800-IBM-SERV to arrange an upgrade to the latest microcode version followed by the installation of the appropriate VTD_EXEC as needed. Minimum microcode versions are shown below:

Machine TypeModelReleaseFix
3957VEDR5.4Upgrade to 8.54.2.17 + VTD_EXEC.416
- OR -
Upgrade to 8.54.1.27 + VTD_EXEC.416
R6.0Upgrade to 8.60.0.115 +VTD_EXEC.416
3948VEDR5.4Upgrade to 8.54.2.17 + VTD_EXEC.416
- OR -
Upgrade to 8.54.1.27 + VTD_EXEC.416
R6.0Upgrade to 8.60.0.115 + VTD_EXEC.416
3948VEFR6.0Upgrade to 8.60.0.115 + VTD_EXEC.416

 

The minimum VTD_EXEC version is shown below:

VTD_EXEC PackageVersion
VTD_EXEC.416 v1.01

Installation Details

ConcurrentYes
Local Machine StateOffline, Service, Online
Remote Machine StateOffline, Service, Online
Time of InstallationAnytime
Installation Time Required10 minutes

Workarounds and Mitigations

Although IBM recommends that you upgrade to the fixes identified above, you can mitigate, but not eliminate the risk of these vulnerabilities by restricting physical and network access to the TS7700 to authorized users and IBM Service Personnel only.

Get Notified about Future Security Bulletins

References

Off

Acknowledgement

Change History

30 Jun 2025: 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:
21 July 2025

Initial Publish date:
30 June 2025

UID

ibm17238566