Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in Apache Log4j affects IBM Spectrum Scale (CVE-2021-44228)

Summary

A vulnerability in Apache Log4j could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system. This library is used by the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of IBM Spectrum Scale for logging. This vulnerability may affect IBM Spectrum Scale.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2021-44228
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache Log4j could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by the failure to protect against attacker controlled LDAP and other JNDI related endpoints by JNDI features. By sending a specially crafted code string, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to load arbitrary Java code on the server and take complete control of the system. Note: The vulnerability is also called Log4Shell or LogJam.
CVSS Base score: 10
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/214921 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

Remediation/Fixes

IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability by installing the Spectrum Scale version specific efix:

Note : If the following line “LOG4J_FORMAT_MSG_NO_LOOKUPS=true” was added to /etc/sysconfig/gpfsgui to mitigate the log4j issue, then remove the line.

1.) For IBM Spectrum Scale:

• For IBM Spectrum Scale V5.0.5.0 - V5.0.5.11 and Spectrum Scale 5.0.5.3 BYOL v1.3.1, reference APAR IJ36567 * For IBM Spectrum Scale V5.1.0 - V5.1.2.1 and for Spectrum Scale 5.0.5.3 BYOL v1.3.1 (if IBM Spectrum Scale version was upgraded to V5.1.0 and above), referenceAPAR IJ36566

• Spectrum Scale 5.1.2.x versions of the efix are available here.

• Spectrum Scale 5.1.1.x versions of the efix are available here:

• Spectrum Scale 5.1.0.x versions of the efix are available here:

• Spectrum Scale 5.0.5.x versions of the efix are available here:

2.) For IBM Spectrum Scale container native storage access environments:

To resolve the CVE, apply the updated container native operator manifest file to pull and apply the new GUI container images built with log4j-2.16.

The updated manifests can be found at: <https://github.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native&gt;

The updated container images are available via IBM Cloud Container Registry.

** For CNSA v5.1.0.1 and 5.1.0.3**

• Upgrade to a newer release of IBM Spectrum Scale container native storage access.

**For****CNSA v5.1.1.**1

Operator, GUI container images, and the generated operator manifest files have been updated.

• Apply the updated operator.yaml:

• * _oc apply -f _[_https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native/v5.1.1.1/generated/installer/ibm-spectrum-scale-operator.yaml_](<https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native/v5.1.1.1/generated/installer/ibm-spectrum-scale-operator.yaml>)
  

For****CNSA v5.1.1.3, v5.1.1.4, v5.1.2.1

GUI container image and the generated operator manifest files have been updated.

1.Apply the generated operator manifest file to get the new digests for GUI

• * **v5.1.1.3**: _oc apply -f _[_https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native/v5.1.1.3/generated/installer/ibm-spectrum-scale-operator.yaml_](<https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native/v5.1.1.3/generated/installer/ibm-spectrum-scale-operator.yaml>)
  

  • v5.1.1.4: _oc apply -f _https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native/v5.1.1.4/generated/installer/ibm-spectrum-scale-operator.yaml
  • v5.1.2.1: _oc apply -f _https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IBM/ibm-spectrum-scale-container-native/v5.1.2.1/generated/installer/ibm-spectrum-scale-operator.yaml

2.Restart the operator pod:

• oc delete pod $(oc get pods -lapp.kubernetes.io/name=operator -n ibm-spectrum-scale-operator -o json | jq -r ‘.items[0].metadata.name’) -n ibm-spectrum-scale-operator

Workarounds and Mitigations

None