CVE-2010-3761 in Tivoli Storage Manager Fastback
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability 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 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, aka ZDI-CAN-700. NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2010-3058 or CVE-2010-3059.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2017
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack versions 5.5.0.0 through 5.5.6.0 and 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.1 contain an unspecified vulnerability that presents a critical remote code execution risk. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of unspecified flaws that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where storage management systems are often accessible over networks. The vulnerability is categorized as a remote code execution flaw, which aligns with common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique for exploitation of remote services. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that multiple attack surfaces within the FastBack application may be susceptible to exploitation, potentially including network protocols, API endpoints, or input validation mechanisms.
The technical flaw in question represents a fundamental security weakness that allows unauthorized remote execution of arbitrary code on affected systems. This type of vulnerability typically stems from inadequate input validation, buffer overflows, or improper access controls within the application's network services. The vulnerability affects both major version lines of FastBack, indicating a widespread issue that was not properly addressed in the patching cycles for these specific releases. The overlap with CVE-2010-3058 and CVE-2010-3059 suggests that this vulnerability may be part of a larger class of issues affecting the FastBack product line, potentially indicating poor code quality or insufficient security testing during development phases. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified means that security researchers and attackers have not yet fully characterized all possible attack vectors, making it particularly challenging to defend against and remediate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations using affected FastBack versions, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities without requiring authentication. This means that any network-accessible FastBack service could be exploited by remote attackers, potentially leading to data breaches, system takeover, and lateral movement within the enterprise network. The vulnerability affects storage management infrastructure that is often considered a critical component of enterprise data protection strategies, making it an attractive target for advanced persistent threats. Organizations may experience significant operational disruption including potential data loss, system downtime, and compliance violations if the vulnerability is exploited. The remote execution capability also means that attackers can deploy malware, establish backdoors, or perform other malicious activities without physical access to the systems, aligning with ATT&CK techniques for initial access and execution.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from IBM, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to FastBack services, and monitoring for suspicious network activity. The vulnerability's unspecified nature requires defensive measures such as network intrusion detection system rules, application firewalls, and comprehensive network monitoring. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and disabling unnecessary network services. Organizations should review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability, as the unspecified nature makes it difficult to predict attack patterns or implement specific defensive measures. The overlap with related CVEs indicates that organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments across their entire FastBack deployment to identify all potentially affected systems and ensure complete remediation. Proper vulnerability management practices including regular patching cycles and security assessments are essential to prevent exploitation of this type of critical remote code execution vulnerability.