CVE-2012-4859 in Tivoli Storage Manager for Space Management
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Space Management (aka TSM HSM) before 6.2.5.0 and 6.3.x before 6.3.1.0 allows local users to read or modify file system objects via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4859 affects IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Space Management, also known as TSM HSM, which is a critical component for storage management and data protection in enterprise environments. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 6.2.5.0 and 6.3.x before 6.3.1.0, representing a significant security gap that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of storage systems. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors indicates that the exact technical flaw remains undisclosed, but the impact on local users suggests a privilege escalation or access control bypass scenario. Organizations relying on TSM HSM for their storage management infrastructure face potential exposure to unauthorized data access and modification, particularly in environments where local system access is not properly restricted.
The technical flaw manifests as a local privilege escalation vulnerability that enables attackers with local system access to read or modify file system objects within the TSM HSM environment. This type of vulnerability typically arises from inadequate input validation, improper access controls, or flawed privilege management mechanisms within the storage management software. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability likely maps to CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues, or potentially CWE-276, concerning incorrect default permissions. The local nature of the vulnerability suggests that attackers do not require network access or remote exploitation capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local system access is not adequately controlled or monitored.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4859 extends beyond simple data theft, as it allows for potential modification of critical storage management operations and system configurations. Attackers could manipulate backup policies, alter storage allocation settings, or compromise the integrity of the entire storage management infrastructure. This vulnerability directly affects the CIA triad, compromising confidentiality through unauthorized data reading, integrity through unauthorized data modification, and potentially availability through configuration changes that could disrupt storage operations. Organizations using TSM HSM for mission-critical storage management face potential data loss, compliance violations, and operational disruptions if this vulnerability is exploited. The impact is particularly severe in regulated industries where storage management systems must maintain strict audit trails and access controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4859 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 6.2.5.0 or 6.3.1.0, as provided by IBM security updates. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control measures to limit local system access to authorized personnel only, following the principle of least privilege as outlined in NIST SP 800-53. Network segmentation and monitoring of local system activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework would likely map to T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1566 for credential access through local system compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other storage management systems, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and access controls in enterprise storage environments.