Security Bulletin: Due to Apache Log4j, IBM WebSphere Automation for IBM Cloud Pak for Watson AIOps is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution (CVE-2021-45046) and denial of service (CVE-2021-45105)

Summary

There are vulnerabilities in the Apache Log4j open source library. The library is used by IBM CloudPak foundational services which is a dependency of IBM WebSphere Automation for IBM Cloud Pak for Watson AIOps. The fix includes upgrade to Apache Log4j v2.17.

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)

Affected Products and Versions

Remediation/Fixes

IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now. The recommended solution involves a component of IBM WebSphere Automation for IBM Cloud Pak for Watson AIOps. The name of the component is IBM CloudPak foundational services (Events Operator). It is recommended to follow the instructions below.

Upgrade to the latest IBM Cloud Pak foundational services release from the IBM Catalog.

Installing the IBM Cloud Pak foundational services online
Refer to the following documentation to perform an online installation:

• Installing IBM Cloud Pak foundational services online by using the console
• Installing IBM Cloud Pak foundational services online by using the CLI

If the Approval Strategy is set to Automatic in the subscription, the operator will automatically update to the latest version.
If the Approval Strategy is set to Manual in the subscription, IBM Cloud Pak foundational services operator cannot be automatically installed or upgraded. For more information, see Approval strategy. Update to the latest version.

Installing the IBM Cloud Pak foundational services in an air-gapped environment
Refer to the following documentation to perform an air-gapped installation:

• Installing in an air gap environment
• Ensure that the following environment variable is used when downloading CASE files:
  export CASE_VERSION=1.2.1

Workarounds and Mitigations

None