CVE-2015-1930 in Tivoli Storage Manager Fastback
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the server in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack 6.1 before 6.1.12 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-1924, CVE-2015-1925, CVE-2015-1929, CVE-2015-1948, CVE-2015-1953, CVE-2015-1954, CVE-2015-1962, CVE-2015-1963, CVE-2015-1964, and CVE-2015-1965.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1930 represents a stack-based buffer overflow condition within the server component of IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack version 6.1 prior to 6.1.12. This flaw resides in the daemon process that handles remote connections and processing requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring local system access or authentication. The vulnerability specifically affects the server daemon functionality and manifests as a denial of service condition that results in daemon crashes, effectively rendering the backup and recovery services unavailable to legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the server processes incoming data from remote clients without proper bounds checking on stack-allocated buffers. Attackers can craft malicious input packets or data sequences that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that leads to program termination. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The exploitation requires remote network access to the FastBack server and can be accomplished through carefully constructed network traffic that triggers the vulnerable code path during data processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1930 extends beyond simple service disruption as it compromises the availability of critical backup and recovery infrastructure. Organizations relying on IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack for data protection and disaster recovery planning face significant risks when this vulnerability exists in their environment, as it can be exploited to create unauthorized service outages. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service vector means that attackers can repeatedly exploit it to maintain service disruption, potentially causing data loss or extended recovery periods if backup systems become unavailable during critical operations. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting services and infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1930 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the buffer overflow condition in the FastBack server component. Organizations should immediately upgrade to IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack 6.1.12 or later versions that contain the necessary code fixes for this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by limiting remote access to the FastBack server to trusted networks and authorized personnel only. Regular security monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in server applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards that emphasize proper memory management and defensive programming techniques. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems running older versions of FastBack and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting their backup infrastructure.