Security Bulletin: IBM Engineering Lifecycle Optimization - Publishing is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution due to Apache Log4j (CVE-2021-44832, CVE-2021-45046, ) and denial of service due to Apache Log4j (CVE-2021-45105)

Summary

There are Remote Attack Vulnerabilities in Apache Log4j (CVE-2021-44832, CVE-2021-45046, CVE-2021-45105) which is used by IBM Engineering Lifecycle Optimization - Publishing (PUB) and Rational Publishing Engine (RPE) Knowledge Center for logging . The fix includes upgrade to Apache Log4j v2.17.1.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2021-45105
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache Log4j is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the failure to protect from uncontrolled recursion from self-referential lookups. A remote attacker with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data could craft malicious input data that contains a recursive lookup to cause a StackOverflowError that will terminate the process. Note: The vulnerability is also called LOG4J2-3230.
CVSS Base score: 7.5
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/215647 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)

CVEID:CVE-2021-45046
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache Log4j could result in remote code execution, caused by an incomplete fix of CVE-2021-44228 in certain non-default configurations. When the logging configuration uses a non-default Pattern Layout with a Context Lookup, an attacker with control over Thread Context Map (MDC) input data can craft malicious input data using a JNDI Lookup pattern to leak sensitive information and remote code execution in some environments and local code execution in all environments.
CVSS Base score: 9
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/215195 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)

CVEID:CVE-2021-44832
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache Log4j could allow a remote attacker with permission to modify the logging configuration file to execute arbitrary code on the system. By constructing a malicious configuration using a JDBC Appender with a data source referencing a JNDI URI , an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute remote code.
CVSS Base score: 6.6
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/216189 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

Remediation/Fixes

IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerabilities now by taking the actions documented in this bulletin.

The Knowledge Center Component for a Locally installed Help Server (KCCI) that is (optionally) installed and configured for the following products: IBM Engineering Lifecycle Optimization - Publishing (PUB)(7.0,7.0.1,7.0.2) and Rational Publishing Engine (RPE)(6.0.6, 6.0.6.1) will need to be updated. Find the version corresponding to your offering click the link and follow the instructions to remediate your offering.

• Rational Publishing Engine (6.0.6)
• Rational Publishing Engine (6.0.6.1)
• IBM Engineering Lifecycle Optimization - Publishing (7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2)

Workarounds and Mitigations

None