Security Bulletin: GNU C library (glibc) vulnerability affects the Intel MPSS for use on the Intel Xeon Phi 3120A, Intel Xeon Phi 5110P, Intel Xeon Phi 7120A and Intel Xeon Phi 7120P PCI-Express add-in cards sold by IBM/Lenovo

Vulnerability Details

Abstract

GNU C library (glibc) vulnerability that has been referred to as GHOST affects the Intel Manycore Platform Software Stack for use on the Intel Xeon Phi PCI-Express add-in cards. (The Intel Manycore Platform Software Stack is available for free on Intel's website. This is not something IBM/Lenovo sells. IBM/Lenovo sells the Intel Xeon Phi cards that use MPSS.)

Vulnerability Details:

CVE-ID: CVE-2015-0235

Description: glibc is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking by the __nss_hostname_digits_dots() function. By sending an invalid hostname argument, a remote attacker could overflow a buffer and execute arbitrary code on the system or cause the application to crash.

CVSS Base Score: 7.6
CVSS Temporal Score: See http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/100386 for current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C)

Affected products and versions

Intel Manycore Platform Software Stack (Intel MPSS) versions 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 that are used with the Intel Xeon Phi PCI-Express cards that are supported in IBM System x Servers that are supported with the Intel Xeon Phi 3120A, Intel Xeon Phi 5110P, Intel Xeon Phi 7120A, and Intel Xeon Phi 7120P cards on the iDataPlex dx360m4, NeXtScale nx360m4/nx360m5, PureFlex x220m4/x240m4/x240m5+PEN and x3850X6/x3950X6 platforms.

Remediation/Fixes:

IBM/Lenovo recommend that you fix this vulnerability by upgrading the affected versions of Intel MPSS that are used with the Intel Xeon Phi cards that are supported in IBM System x Servers to MPSS version 3.4.3 or newer. Instructions on how to download and apply the update are available at https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-manycore-platform-software-stack-mpss.

Once updates have been applied, any process using glibc will need to be restarted. Given that nearly all system processes use glibc, rebooting after upgrading is suggested.

IBM recommends that you review your entire environment to identify vulnerable releases of glibc including your Operating Systems and take appropriate mitigation and remediation actions. Please contact your Operating System provider for more information.

Workaround(s) & Mitigation(s):

None.

Reference:

• Complete CVSS Guide
• On-line Calculator V2

Related Information:
IBM Secure Engineering Web Portal
IBM Product Security Incident Response Blog

Acknowledgement

None.

Change History
26 February 2015: Original Copy Published

* 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 Flash.

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.