Security Bulletin: Vulnerability exists in Watson Explorer (CVE-2021-4104)

Summary

Log4j is used by IBM Watson Explorer to log system events for diagnostics. This bulletin provides a remediation for the vulnerability, CVE-2021-4104 by upgrading Watson Explorer and thus addressing the exposure to the log4j vulnerability.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2021-4104
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache Log4j could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by the deserialization of untrusted data when the attacker has write access to the Log4j configuration. If the deployed application is configured to use JMSAppender, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system.
CVSS Base score: 8.1
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/215048 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

12.0.0.0,

12.0.1,

12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2,

12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.7

IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition Analytical Components|

12.0.0.0,

12.0.1,

12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2,

12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.7

IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition oneWEX|

12.0.0.0, 12.0.0.1

12.0.1,

12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2,

12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.7

IBM Watson Explorer
Foundational Components| 11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3,
11.0.1,
11.0.2.0 -
11.0.2.11
IBM Watson Explorer Analytical Components| 11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3,
11.0.1,
11.0.2.0 -
11.0.2.11
IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio| 12.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3
IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio| 11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3,
11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.2

Remediation/Fixes

12.0.0.0,

12.0.1,

12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.7

| Upgrade to Version 12.0.3.8.

See Watson Explorer Version 12.0.3.8 Foundational Components for download information and instructions.

IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition Analytical Components| 12.0.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.7|

Upgrade to Version 12.0.3.8.

See Watson Explorer Version 12.0.3.8 Analytical Components for download information and instructions.

IBM Watson Explorer Deep Analytics Edition oneWEX| 12.0.0.0, 12.0.0.1, 12.0.1, 12.0.2.0 - 12.0.2.2, 12.0.3.0 - 12.0.3.7|

Upgrade to Version 12.0.3.8.

See Watson Explorer Version 12.0.3.8 oneWEX for download information and instructions.

IBM Watson Explorer
Foundational Components| 11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3,
11.0.1,
11.0.2.0 -
11.0.2.11|

Upgrade to Version 11.0.2.12.

See Watson Explorer Version 11.0.2.12 Foundational Components for download information and instructions.

IBM Watson Explorer Analytical Components| 11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3,
11.0.1,
11.0.2.0 -
11.0.2.11|

Upgrade to Version 11.0.2.12.

See Watson Explorer Version 11.0.2.12 Analytical Components for download information and instructions.

IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio| 12.0.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3|

1. If you have not already installed, install Version 12.0.3. For information about Version 12.0.3, and links to the software and release notes, see the download document.
2. Download the interim fix from Fix Central: 12.0.3.0-WS-WatsonExplorer-DAEAnalytical-CAStudio-IF001.
3. To apply the fix, follow the steps below.

1. Delete `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins\com.hp.hpl.jena_2.11.0` folder
2. Extract the interim fix zip file to the `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins` folder
3. Run command `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\studio.exe -clean` in Command Prompt  

IBM Watson Explorer Content Analytics Studio| 11.0.0.0 - 11.0.0.3,
11.0.1, 11.0.2.0 - 11.0.2.2|

1. If you have not already installed, install Version 11.0.2.2.

* For information about Version 11.0.2, and links to the software and release notes, see the [download document](<https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/724425>).
* For information about upgrading, see the [upgrade procedures](<http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27049072>).For information about Version 11.0.2.2, see the [download document](<http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24044331>).

2. Download the interim fix from Fix Central: 11.0.2.2-WS-WatsonExplorer-AEAnalytical-CAStudio-IF001.
3. To apply the fix, follow the steps below.

1. Delete `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins\com.hp.hpl.jena_2.11.0` folder
2. Extract the interim fix zip file to the `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\plugins` folder
3. Run command `%CA_STUDIO_INSTALL_DIR%\studio.exe -clean` in Command Prompt  

Workarounds and Mitigations

None