Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in IBM Java SDK affects IBM Explorer for z/OS 3.0 (CVE-2015-7575)

Summary

There is a vulnerability in IBM® SDK Java™ Technology Edition that is used by IBM Explorer for z/OS V3.0. This vulnerability, commonly referred to as “SLOTH”, was disclosed as part of the IBM Java SDK updates in January 2016.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID: CVE-2015-7575**
DESCRIPTION:** The TLS protocol could allow weaker than expected security caused by a collision attack when using the MD5 hash function for signing a ServerKeyExchange message during a TLS handshake. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability using man-in-the-middle techniques to impersonate a TLS server and obtain credentials. This vulnerability is commonly referred to as “SLOTH”.
CVSS Base Score: 7.1
CVSS Temporal Score: See https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/109415 for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/UI:U/C:H/I:L/A:N)

Affected Products and Versions

Principal Product and Version(s)

IBM Explorer for z/OS V3.0

Remediation/Fixes

IBM has provided patches for the affected version.

Installation instructions and the IBM Explorer for z/OS Version 3.0.0.2 update can be obtained at the following location:
Mainframe Development - Download Eclipse Tools

For users of CICS Explorer, V5.3.0.1 or higher should also be installed. CICS Explorer was rebuilt as a result of the affect this security vulnerability had on IBM Explorer for z/OS 3.0, upon which CICS Explorer is built. CICS Explorer itself was not affected by the security vulnerability so there was no associated APAR. There were no updates to the CICS Tools plug-ins that are associated with this security vulnerability.