CVE-2013-0471 in Tivoli Storage Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The traditional scheduler in the client in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) before 6.2.5.0, 6.3 before 6.3.1.0, and 6.4 before 6.4.0.1, when Prompted mode is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (scheduling outage) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0471 affects the traditional scheduler component within IBM Tivoli Storage Manager client software across multiple version ranges including 6.2.5.0 and earlier, 6.3.1.0 and earlier, and 6.4.0.1 and earlier. This security flaw specifically impacts systems operating in Prompted mode, where the scheduler component becomes susceptible to remote exploitation by malicious actors. The vulnerability resides in the client-side implementation of the storage management system, creating a potential pathway for attackers to disrupt scheduled operations and compromise system availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the traditional scheduler handles certain input conditions or processing sequences when operating in Prompted mode. While the exact attack vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, the impact manifests as a denial of service condition that results in scheduling outages. This suggests that the scheduler component lacks proper input validation or error handling mechanisms that would prevent malicious input from causing system instability or complete operational failure. The vulnerability operates at the client level within the Tivoli Storage Manager ecosystem, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely heavily on automated backup and recovery scheduling processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise critical data protection workflows within enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for their backup and recovery operations face significant risk when systems are running vulnerable versions of the client software. The scheduling outage could result in missed backup windows, delayed recovery procedures, and overall degradation of storage management capabilities. This vulnerability directly affects the availability and reliability of data protection services, which are fundamental to business continuity and disaster recovery planning. The impact is particularly severe in environments where automated scheduling is critical for maintaining compliance with data retention policies and regulatory requirements.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of IBM Tivoli Storage Manager client software as recommended by IBM security advisories. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and potentially CWE-119, "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer," suggesting memory management issues in the scheduler component. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," and T1566.001, "Phishing," as attackers may leverage social engineering to trigger the vulnerable condition. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems while patches are deployed. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in enterprise storage management systems and highlights the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address both server and client-side components of critical infrastructure software.