Security Bulletin: A vulnerability in the agent core framework affects IBM Performance Management products

Summary

The agent core framework component makes use of expat. Expat, when used in a parser that has not called XML_SetHashSalt or passed it a seed of 0, could provide weaker than expected security. The expat XML parser is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the failure to use sufficient entropy for hash initialization.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID: CVE-2012-6702**
DESCRIPTION:** Expat, when used in a parser that has not called XML_SetHashSalt or passed it a seed of 0, could provide weaker than expected security. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability using attack vectors involving use of the srand function to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms.
CVSS Base Score: 5.9
CVSS Temporal Score: See https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/114541 for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N)
**
CVEID:** CVE-2016-5300**
DESCRIPTION:** Expat XML parser is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the failure to use sufficient entropy for hash initialization. By using specially-crafted identifiers in an XML document, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the application to crash.
CVSS Base Score: 5.3
CVSS Temporal Score: See https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/114435 for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L)

Affected Products and Versions

IBM Monitoring 8.1.3

IBM Application Diagnostics 8.1.3

IBM Application Performance Management 8.1.3

IBM Application Performance Management Advanced 8.1.3

IBM Cloud Application Performance Management

Remediation/Fixes

Product

| Product
VRMF| Remediation
—|—|—
IBM Monitoring

IBM Application Diagnostics

IBM Application Performance Management

IBM Application Performance Management Advanced| 8.1.3| The vulnerability can be remediated by applying the core framework patch 8.1.3.0-IBM-IPM-CORE-FRAMEWORK-IPM-IF0003 to all systems where Performance Management agents are installed:

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=isg400003321

Important: The fix is part of the agent core framework in the V814 on premise product. If you plan to upgrade your Performance Management offering from V813 to V814, you must also upgrade your agents to V8.1.4 to apply this core framework fix.
IBM Cloud Application Performance Management| N/A| After your subscription is upgraded to V8.1.4, the vulnerability can be remediated by upgrading your agents using the latest Cloud APM agent package that is provided with IBM Cloud Application Performance Management.

Workarounds and Mitigations

None.