Security Bulletin: MFA may be bypassed for LDAP users in IBM SAN Volume Controller, IBM Storwize, IBM Spectrum Virtualize and IBM FlashSystem products

Summary

LDAP users which are configured to require Multifactor Authentication (MFA) can still authenticate to the Common Information Model (CIM) interface using only username and password, which will allow them to perform a subset of configuration actions described here: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/sanvolumecontroller/8.5.x?topic=ica-cim-agent. This does not affect local users with MFA configured or remote users authenticating via Single Sign-On (SSO).

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2023-25681
**DESCRIPTION:**LDAP users on IBM Spectrum Virtualize which are configured to require multifactor authentication can still authenticate to the CIM interface using only username and password. This does not affect local users with MFA configured or remote users authenticating via single sign-on.
CVSS Base score: 5.3
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/247033 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N)

Affected Products and Versions

Note that this applies to all IBM SAN Volume Controller, IBM Storwize and IBM FlashSystem products which run IBM Spectrum Virtualize software.

Remediation/Fixes

IBM recommends that you fix this vulnerability by upgrading affected versions of IBM SAN Volume Controller, IBM Storwize V7000, IBM Storwize V5000 and V5100, IBM Storwize V5000E, IBM Spectrum Virtualize Software, IBM Spectrum Virtualize for Public Cloud, IBM FlashSystem V9000, IBM FlashSystem 9500, IBM FlashSystem 9100 Family, IBM FlashSystem 9200, IBM FlashSystem 7300, IBM FlashSystem 7200, IBM FlashSystem 5200 and IBM FlashSystem 5000 to the following code levels or higher:

8.5.4.0

8.5.2.3

8.5.0.7

Latest IBM SAN Volume Controller Code
Latest IBM Storwize V7000 Code
Latest IBM Storwize V5000 and V5100 Code
Latest IBM Storwize V5000E Code
Latest IBM FlashSystem V9000 Code
Latest IBM FlashSystem 9500 Code
Latest IBM FlashSystem 9100 Family Code
Latest IBM FlashSystem 9200 Code
Latest IBM FlashSystem 7300 Code
Latest IBM FlashSystem 7200 Code
Latest IBM FlashSystem 5000 and 5200 Code
Latest IBM Spectrum Virtualize Software
Latest IBM Spectrum Virtualize for Public Cloud

Workarounds and Mitigations

The following steps are recommended if you are unable to immediately upgrade:

• Disable LDAP and only allow local users with MFA to prevent this vulnerability from being exploited.
• Optionally enable SSO as an alternative authentication path (GUI only) for remote users with MFA which is unaffected by this vulnerability.