CVE-2010-3060 in Tivoli Storage Manager Fastback
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the message-protocol implementation in the Server in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) FastBack 5.x.x before 5.5.7, and 6.1.0.0, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon outage) via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3060 affects IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server implementations across multiple version ranges including 5.x.x before 5.5.7 and 6.1.0.0. This issue resides within the message-protocol implementation component of the FastBack server software, which serves as the core communication layer for storage management operations. The affected system components operate as daemon processes that handle critical storage management tasks including backup operations, data replication, and storage resource allocation. The vulnerability manifests as an unspecified weakness in how the server processes incoming message protocols, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to disrupt normal operational procedures.
The technical flaw represents a denial of service condition that specifically targets the daemon processes running on the FastBack server infrastructure. While the exact nature of the vulnerability remains unspecified in the CVE description, such weaknesses typically stem from inadequate input validation, buffer overflow conditions, or improper state handling within protocol parsing routines. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit communication pathways without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the FastBack server may be exposed to external networks. The impact occurs through unknown vectors that likely involve malformed message protocol data or crafted communication sequences designed to trigger unexpected behavior in the server's message handling mechanisms.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire storage management infrastructures. When the daemon process becomes unresponsive or terminates unexpectedly, it creates cascading failures throughout the storage environment as backup operations halt, replication processes fail, and storage resource management becomes unavailable. Organizations relying on Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack for critical data protection operations face significant risk of data loss or extended recovery periods when such denial of service attacks occur. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can potentially target systems from external networks without physical access, making it particularly challenging to defend against in environments where the server may be exposed to untrusted network traffic.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches for versions 5.5.7 and 6.1.0.0, which address the underlying message protocol implementation flaws. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to FastBack server components to only trusted administrative networks and authorized management systems. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based monitoring for known attack patterns targeting storage management protocols can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses "Improper Access of Resource Through Symbolic Links" and CWE-121 which covers "Stack-based Buffer Overflow", indicating potential weaknesses in memory management and input validation within the server's protocol handling code. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service" and T1566.001 which addresses "Phishing via Service" as attackers may leverage this weakness to disrupt business operations and potentially gain access to additional systems through extended attack chains.