Security Bulletin: A vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Scale could allow an authenticated user to gain elevated privileges (CVE-2020-9492)

Summary

A security vulnerability has been identified in all levels of IBM Spectrum Scale HDFS Transparency that could allow a remote authenticated user to gain elevated privileges. A fix for this vulnerability is available.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2020-9492
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache Hadoop could allow a remote authenticated attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system, caused by improper validation of SPNEGO authorization header. By sending a specially-crafted request, an authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges to trigger services to send server credentials to a webhdfs path for capturing the service principal.
CVSS Base score: 8.8
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/195656 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Affected Products and Versions

Remediation/Fixes

For IBM Spectrum Scale V5.0.0 through 5.0.5.6, apply V5.0.5.7 (HDFS Transparency V3.1.1-5) or later available from FixCentral at:

https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=Software%20defined%20storage&product=ibm/StorageSoftware/IBM+Spectrum+Scale&release=5.0.5&platform=All&function=all

For IBM Spectrum Scale V5.1.0.0 - V5.1.0.3, apply V5.1.1 (HDFS Transparency V3.1.0-8) or later available from FixCentral at:

https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=Software%20defined%20storage&product=ibm/StorageSoftware/IBM+Spectrum+Scale&release=5.1.1&platform=All&function=all

If you cannot apply the latest level of service, contact IBM Service.

Workarounds and Mitigations

Workaround:

Set different http signature secrets and use dedicated hosts for each privileged impersonation service (such as HiveServer2).