CVE-2021-38947 in Spectrum Copy Data Management
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2021
IBM Spectrum Copy Data Management 2.2.13 and earlier uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that could allow an attacker to decrypt highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 211242.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2021
IBM Spectrum Copy Data Management version 2.2.13 and earlier contains a critical cryptographic vulnerability that compromises the confidentiality of sensitive data through the use of weakened encryption algorithms. This vulnerability falls under the category of cryptographic weakness as defined by CWE-327, specifically addressing the use of insecure cryptographic algorithms that fail to provide adequate protection for data at rest and in transit. The flaw enables attackers to potentially decrypt highly sensitive information that should remain protected by strong encryption standards.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's reliance on cryptographic algorithms that do not meet contemporary security requirements. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform decryption attacks against data that was supposedly protected by encryption, undermining the fundamental security controls that organizations depend upon for data protection. The vulnerability represents a failure to implement industry-standard cryptographic practices and demonstrates a lack of proper security configuration management. This weakness is particularly concerning as it affects copy data management operations where sensitive information is frequently processed and stored, creating multiple potential attack vectors for malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it compromises the integrity of the entire data protection framework within IBM Spectrum Copy Data Management environments. Organizations utilizing this software may face significant regulatory compliance issues, as the weakness directly violates data protection standards such as those outlined in iso/iec 27001 and nist cyber security framework. The vulnerability creates opportunities for unauthorized data access that could lead to intellectual property theft, financial loss, and reputational damage. Additionally, the weakness may enable attackers to escalate privileges within affected systems or use the decrypted information to launch further attacks against connected infrastructure. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques categorized under mitre att&ck matrix tactic TA0006 (credential access) and technique T1552 (unsecured credentials).
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to IBM Spectrum Copy Data Management versions that address this cryptographic weakness, ensuring all encryption algorithms meet current security standards, and conducting thorough security assessments of affected environments. The recommended approach involves replacing deprecated cryptographic implementations with industry-standard algorithms such as AES-256 for data encryption and SHA-256 for hashing operations. Security teams should also implement additional monitoring and logging controls to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing cryptographic vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other enterprise applications and ensure compliance with security best practices as defined by nist and other security standards organizations.