CVE-2017-1304 in Spectrum Scale
Summary
by MITRE
IBM has identified a vulnerability with IBM Spectrum Scale/GPFS utilized on the Elastic Storage Server (ESS)/GPFS Storage Server (GSS) during testing of an unsupported configuration, where users applications are running on an active ESS I/O server node and utilize direct I/O to perform a read or a write to a Spectrum Scale file. This vulnerability may result in the use of an incorrect memory address, leading to a Spectrum Scale/GPFS daemon failure with a Signal 11, and possibly leading to denial of service or undetected data corruption. IBM X-Force ID: 125458.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2020
This vulnerability exists within IBM Spectrum Scale and GPFS storage systems when deployed on Elastic Storage Server or GPFS Storage Server platforms under unsupported configurations. The flaw manifests specifically when user applications execute direct I/O operations on active ESS I/O server nodes, creating a critical memory management issue that can compromise system stability and data integrity. The vulnerability represents a serious security concern as it can be exploited to cause daemon failures and potentially lead to denial of service conditions or undetected data corruption within the storage infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability involves incorrect memory address utilization during direct I/O operations within the Spectrum Scale/GPFS daemon processes. When applications perform read or write operations directly to Spectrum Scale files through the active ESS I/O server node, the system fails to properly manage memory references, resulting in Signal 11 errors that cause daemon crashes. This memory address corruption issue stems from improper handling of I/O operations in unsupported configurations, where the system's memory management mechanisms are not properly validated or protected against malicious or erroneous direct I/O access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-129, which covers improper validation of array indices, both of which are relevant to the memory address handling failure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential data integrity threats within enterprise storage environments. When the Spectrum Scale/GPFS daemon fails due to Signal 11 errors, system administrators face immediate denial of service conditions that can halt critical data operations and affect business continuity. The potential for undetected data corruption adds another layer of risk, as corrupted data might persist without immediate detection, leading to silent data loss or inconsistent data states that could compromise downstream applications and analytics. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on high-performance storage solutions where continuous availability and data integrity are paramount for business operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including avoiding unsupported configuration deployments and ensuring proper system validation before implementing Spectrum Scale/GPFS solutions on ESS/GSS platforms. The recommended approach involves maintaining supported hardware and software configurations to prevent the memory address corruption scenarios that trigger daemon failures. System administrators should also implement robust monitoring solutions to detect early signs of daemon instability and establish incident response protocols for rapid recovery from potential denial of service conditions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit direct I/O operations that could trigger the vulnerability, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host and T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service to prevent exploitation of the memory corruption vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of adhering to vendor-supported configurations and maintaining proper system hardening practices to prevent unauthorized access patterns that could lead to daemon failures and system instability.