IBM Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in IBM Java Runtime affects IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot on AIX and Linux (CVE-2020-27221)

Summary
Vulnerabilities in IBM Runtime Environment Java were disclosed as part of the IBM Java SDK updates in January 2021. IBM Runtime Environment Java is used by IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot which may be affected by CVE-2020-27221 on AIX and Linux.

UPDATED: May 26, 2021 – Added Fix for 4.1 and instructions for IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker.

Vulnerability details
CVEID: CVE-2020-27221
Description: Eclipse OpenJ9 is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow when the virtual machine or JNI natives are converting from UTF-8 characters to platform encoding. By sending an overly long string, a remote attacker could overflow a buffer and execute arbitrary code on the system or cause the application to crash.
CVSS Base score: 9.8
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/195353 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected products and versions

Affected Product(s)	Version(s)
IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot for Db2 on AIX and Linux	8.1.0.0-8.1.11.0 4.1.0.0-4.1.6.4
IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot for Custom Applications on AIX and Linux	8.1.0.0-8.1.11.0 4.1.0.0-4.1.6.4
IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot for Oracle on AIX and Linux	8.1.0.0-8.1.11.0 4.1.0.0-4.1.6.4
IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot for Oracle with SAP on AIX and Linux	8.1.0.0-8.1.11.0 4.1.0.0-4.1.6.4
IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker	8.1.0.0-8.1.11.0 4.1.0.0-4.1.6.4

Remediation/Fixes

IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Release	First Fixing VRM Level	Platform	Link to Fix
8.1	8.1.11.1	AIX Linux	https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6445123
4.1	4.1.6.5	AIX Linux	https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6454871

Instructions for IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot prerequisite checker
The IBM Java Runtime Environment (JRE) shipped with IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker on AIX and Linux may be affected by CVE-2020-27221. IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker ONLY uses the JRE during installation and uninstallation of the product. During normal operation of IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker, the JRE is not used. To make sure this vulnerability cannot be exploited, the JRE should be deleted. Remove the folder /opt/tivoli/tsfcm/fcmprereqchecker/jre/

If you need to uninstall the IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker, you must first install an IBM JRE at level 8.0.6.25 or higher as the system JRE. Future updates of IBM Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker will contain a JRE that is not affected by CVE-2020-27221.

Workarounds and Mitigations
None

Get notified about future security bulletins
Subscribe to My Notifications to be notified of important product support alerts like this.

References:
Complete CVSS v3 Guide
On-line Calculator v3

Acknowledgement

Change history:
April 23, 2021: Initial Publication
May 26, 2021: Added Fix for 4.1 and instructions for Spectrum Protect Snapshot Prerequisite Checker

*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.

Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an ‘industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response.’ IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES ‘’AS IS’’ WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.