CVE-2020-4956 in Spectrum Protect Operations Center
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2021
IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center 7.1 and 8.1 is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by a RPC that allows certain cache values to be set and dumped to a file. By setting a grossly large cache value and dumping that cached value to a file multiple times, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the consumption of all memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 192156.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-4956 affects IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center versions 7.1 and 8.1, representing a critical denial of service weakness that stems from improper handling of remote procedure calls within the system's caching mechanism. This flaw exists within the RPC framework that manages cache values, specifically allowing unauthorized manipulation of cache contents through controlled input parameters. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables an attacker to exploit memory consumption patterns through deliberate cache value manipulation, creating a scenario where system resources become exhausted through repeated cache operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the RPC interface that permits cache values to be both set and dumped to persistent storage files. When an attacker constructs and injects excessively large cache values, the system's caching subsystem processes these inputs without adequate validation or size restrictions. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when multiple instances of such large cache values are repeatedly set and dumped to files, creating a memory exhaustion condition that ultimately leads to system denial of service. This represents a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern where the attacker leverages legitimate system functionality to consume available memory resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system unavailability, as it can effectively render the IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center inoperable for legitimate users while consuming all available memory resources. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the system may be exposed to external threats. The cumulative effect of repeated cache dumping operations creates a progressive degradation of system performance until complete memory exhaustion occurs, potentially affecting backup operations and data protection services that the system is designed to support.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," where attackers target system resources to create service disruptions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt backup and recovery operations. Organizations relying on IBM Spectrum Protect Operations Center for data protection may experience significant operational impact when this vulnerability is exploited, potentially leading to extended downtime and compromised data protection capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of IBM's security patches and updates addressing this specific vulnerability, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, and monitoring for unusual cache activity patterns. System administrators should also consider implementing resource limits and quotas on cache operations, along with regular auditing of cache file operations to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and resource management in distributed systems, particularly those handling backup and recovery operations where system availability is critical for business continuity. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly identify and respond to resource exhaustion attacks targeting their data protection infrastructure.