CVE-2015-0114 in V5R4
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in IBM V5R4, and IBM i Access for Windows 6.1 and 7.1.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0114 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting IBM V5R4 systems and IBM i Access for Windows versions 6.1 and 7.1. This vulnerability resides within the IBM i Access software suite, which serves as a client interface for connecting to IBM i systems, commonly used in enterprise environments for database access and system administration. The buffer overflow occurs when the software processes certain input data structures without proper bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the IBM i Access client software components responsible for handling network communications and data processing. When the application receives specially crafted input through network protocols or data streams, it fails to validate the size of incoming data against the allocated buffer space on the stack. This allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the program's execution flow and enabling code execution with the privileges of the affected process. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through compromised applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Organizations running affected IBM i Access versions face significant risks including unauthorized data access, system takeover, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems where IBM i Access is installed as a client application, particularly those connecting to IBM i systems for database operations, file transfers, and administrative tasks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise data, potentially compromising business-critical applications and databases that rely on IBM i systems for core operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0114 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with IBM's official security updates. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of IBM i Access and ensure proper patch management protocols are implemented. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of affected systems, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized code and establish robust incident response procedures for potential exploitation events. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for enterprise software components and demonstrates the critical nature of addressing buffer overflow vulnerabilities in client-server applications that handle network communications and data processing functions.