CVE-2006-5855 in Tivoli Storage Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) before 5.2.9 and 5.3.x before 5.3.4 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long string in (1) the language field at logon that begins with a 0x18 byte, (2) two unspecified parameters to the SmExecuteWdsfSession function, and (3) the contact field in an open registration message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-5855 represents a critical security flaw in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager software that affects versions prior to 5.2.9 and 5.3.x before 5.3.4. This issue manifests through multiple buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited by remote attackers to cause system instability and potentially achieve arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability impacts the core authentication and registration processes of the storage management system, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments that rely on TSM for data protection and backup operations. These buffer overflows occur in different components of the software stack, creating multiple attack vectors that adversaries can leverage to compromise system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves several distinct buffer overflow scenarios that exploit improper input validation mechanisms within the IBM Tivoli Storage Manager application. The first vector occurs when processing the language field during logon operations, specifically when the field begins with a 0x18 byte followed by an excessively long string that exceeds the allocated buffer space. The second and third vectors involve unspecified parameters within the SmExecuteWdsfSession function and the contact field of open registration messages respectively. These buffer overflows are classified under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers stack-based buffer overflow scenarios. The exploitation of these vulnerabilities follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203 for "Exploitation for Execution" and T1499 for "Network Denial of Service" when targeting the denial of service aspects.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can potentially allow remote code execution within the target environment. When attackers successfully exploit these buffer overflows, they can cause the TSM server processes to crash, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt critical backup and recovery operations. In scenarios where arbitrary code execution is achieved, attackers could potentially gain elevated privileges, install backdoors, or manipulate stored data within the storage management environment. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local credentials to target affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where TSM services are exposed to external networks. Organizations using affected versions face significant risks to their data protection infrastructure, as the compromise of storage management systems can lead to complete data loss or unauthorized access to backup repositories.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates to versions 5.2.9 or 5.3.4 and later, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to TSM services, particularly restricting external exposure of these critical management interfaces. Input validation controls should be strengthened at network boundaries to filter out potentially malicious payloads before they reach the TSM servers. The implementation of intrusion detection systems capable of identifying exploitation attempts targeting these specific buffer overflow patterns can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected TSM versions within their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or registration attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict access to TSM services to only trusted administrative networks can significantly reduce the attack surface for this vulnerability. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the implemented mitigations are effective and to identify any additional vulnerabilities that might exist within the storage management infrastructure.