CVE-2010-3754 in Tivoli Storage Manager Fastback
Summary
by MITRE
The FXCLI_OraBR_Exec_Command function in FastBackServer.exe in the Server in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) FastBack 5.5.0.0 through 5.5.6.0 and 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.1 uses values of packet fields to determine the content and length of data copied to memory, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted packet. NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2010-3059.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3754 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server component. This issue affects versions 5.5.0.0 through 5.5.6.0 and 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.1 of the FastBack server software, specifically within the FXCLI_OraBR_Exec_Command function located in the FastBackServer.exe executable. The flaw stems from improper input validation where the software directly uses packet field values to determine both the content and length of data to be copied into memory buffers, creating a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft specially designed network packets that manipulate the packet field values to exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. When the FastBackServer.exe processes these malformed packets, the function attempts to copy data using the attacker-controlled length values, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the FastBack service account. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a high-severity issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it requires no local access or authentication, making it suitable for remote exploitation through network-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise of the Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server. Attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to backup data, modify backup operations, or use the compromised server as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise backup environments, which often contain sensitive and valuable data. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as the successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM patches and updates released for the Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack product. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying the vendor-supplied security patches as soon as possible, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the FastBack server, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling unnecessary network services and implementing strict access controls around the FastBack server to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability's overlap with CVE-2010-3059 indicates that organizations should verify their patching status against both CVE identifiers to ensure complete protection against related exploitation techniques.