CVE-2019-4357 in Spectrum Protect Plus
Summary
by MITRE
When using IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0, 10.1.2, and 10.1.3 to protect Oracle, DB2 or MongoDB databases, a redirected restore operation specifying a target path may allow execution of arbitrary code on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 161667,
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2023
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus versions 10.1.0, 10.1.2, and 10.1.3 contain a critical vulnerability that affects database protection workflows for Oracle, DB2, and MongoDB systems. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during redirected restore operations when specifying target paths, creating a potential code execution vector that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw exists within the restore functionality that processes user-specified paths for database restoration operations, where the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input paths before executing restore commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a path traversal or injection flaw that allows attackers to manipulate the restore process by specifying malicious target paths. When a user initiates a restore operation with a redirected target path, the system does not adequately validate the path specification, potentially allowing attackers to inject commands or redirect the restore process to execute arbitrary code on the underlying system. This type of vulnerability maps to CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-78 Command Injection, both of which are classified as critical security weaknesses by the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data protection failures, as successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise and unauthorized access to protected database environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with the privileges of the Spectrum Protect Plus service account, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM Spectrum Protect Plus for database backup and recovery operations, particularly those managing critical Oracle, DB2, or MongoDB database environments where the restore functionality is actively used.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for IBM Spectrum Protect Plus versions 10.1.0, 10.1.2, and 10.1.3 to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit who can initiate restore operations, while monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous restore activities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1021 Remote Services, indicating that exploitation would involve command execution and potentially remote access capabilities. Additionally, organizations should review their database backup and restore procedures to ensure proper input validation and implement principle of least privilege for restore operations to minimize potential impact from such vulnerabilities.