CVE-2008-4801 in Tivoli Storage Manager Client
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Data Protection for SQL CAD service (aka dsmcat.exe) in the Client Acceptor Daemon (CAD) and the scheduler in the Backup-Archive client 5.1.0.0 through 5.1.8.1, 5.2.0.0 through 5.2.5.2, 5.3.0.0 through 5.3.6.1, 5.4.0.0 through 5.4.2.2, and 5.5.0.0 through 5.5.0.91 in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM); and the Backup-Archive client in TSM Express; allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by sending a large amount of crafted data to a TCP port.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4801 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) and TSM Express backup solutions. This flaw exists within the Data Protection for SQL CAD service, specifically in the dsmcat.exe component that operates as part of the Client Acceptor Daemon and scheduler functionality. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the TSM software spanning from 5.1.0.0 through 5.1.8.1, 5.2.0.0 through 5.2.5.2, 5.3.0.0 through 5.3.6.1, 5.4.0.0 through 5.4.2.2, and 5.5.0.0 through 5.5.0.91, making it a widespread issue across several major release branches.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the CAD service's handling of TCP network traffic. When the dsmcat.exe process receives crafted data through a TCP port, it fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size heap buffer. This allows attackers to overflow the allocated memory space and overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that the overflow occurs in dynamically allocated memory regions rather than stack-based buffers, making exploitation more complex but still highly dangerous. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which is a common class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. Attackers can exploit this flaw by sending specially crafted data to the targeted TCP port, potentially allowing them to gain complete control over the affected system. This remote execution capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target vulnerable network services to establish persistent access. The vulnerability affects the backup and archive client functionality of TSM, which typically runs continuously and listens on network ports, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise backup infrastructure. Such compromises can lead to data exfiltration, system takeover, and disruption of critical backup operations that organizations rely on for disaster recovery.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4801 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as IBM released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected TCP ports, particularly those used by the CAD service. Network-based intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and bounds checking in network services, as recommended by CWE best practices, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary services and ports, and regularly review and update security configurations to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in network services and highlights the need for robust input validation as outlined in various security standards and frameworks.