Multiple vulnerabilities in IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for z/OS

1) Infinite loop

EUVDB-ID: #VU59051

Risk: Medium

CVSSv3.1: 6.7 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-45105

CWE-ID: CWE-835 - Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

The vulnerability exists due to infinite loop within the StrSubstitutor class. A remote attacker can pass specially crafted input to the application, consume all available system resources and cause denial of service conditions.

Payload example: ${${::-${::-$${::-j}}}}

Mitigation

Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for zOS: 6.2

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:a:ibm_corporation:ibm_sterling_connect:direct_for_zos:6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:

External links

http://www.ibm.com/blogs/psirt/security-bulletin-apache-log4j-vulnerabilities-impact-ibm-sterling-connectdirect-for-z-os-cve-2021-45105-cve-2021-45046/
http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6538388

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability. However, proof of concept for this vulnerability is available.

2) Code Injection

EUVDB-ID: #VU58976

Risk: High

CVSSv3.1: 8.6 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-45046

CWE-ID: CWE-94 - Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

Exploit availability: Yes

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to compromise the affected system.

The vulnerability exists due to incomplete patch in Apache Log4j 2.15.0 for a code injection vulnerability #VU58816 (CVE-2021-44228) in certain non-default configurations. A remote attacker with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data when the logging configuration uses a non-default Pattern Layout with either a Context Lookup (for example, $${ctx:loginId}) or a Thread Context Map pattern (%X, %mdc, or %MDC) can pass malicious data using a JNDI Lookup pattern and perform a denial of service (DoS) attack, exfiltrate data or execute arbitrary code.

Later discovery demonstrates a remote code execution on macOS but no other tested environments.

Mitigation

Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for zOS: 6.2

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:a:ibm_corporation:ibm_sterling_connect:direct_for_zos:6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:

External links

http://www.ibm.com/blogs/psirt/security-bulletin-apache-log4j-vulnerabilities-impact-ibm-sterling-connectdirect-for-z-os-cve-2021-45105-cve-2021-45046/
http://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6538388

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.