CVE-2024-56468: IBM InfoSphere Data Replication VSAM for z/OS Vulnerable to Denial of Service
A vulnerability has been discovered in IBM InfoSphere Data Replication VSAM for z/OS Remote Source 11.4 that could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. This occurs when the system receives an invalid HTTP request, leading to disruption of the log reading service.
Vulnerability Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2024-56468
- Description: IBM InfoSphere Data Replication VSAM for z/OS Remote Source 11.4 could allow a remote user to cause a denial of service by sending an invalid HTTP request to the log reading service.
- CVSS Score: 7.5 HIGH
- CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CVSS Explanation: This vulnerability has a high severity rating because it is remotely exploitable without requiring any privileges or user interaction. An attacker can send a malformed HTTP request over the network, causing a complete disruption of the service. The attack complexity is low, making it relatively easy to exploit.
- Exploit Requirements: The attacker needs network access to the affected IBM InfoSphere Data Replication VSAM instance and the ability to send HTTP requests. No authentication is required.
- Affected Vendor: IBM
- Affected Product: InfoSphere Data Replication VSAM for z/OS Remote Source
- Affected Version: 11.4
- CWE: CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) - While the description doesn't explicitly state a buffer overflow, invalid HTTP request handling can lead to memory corruption issues like buffer overflows if the input isn't properly validated. CWE-121 describes a condition where a program writes beyond the boundaries of a buffer located on the stack.
Timeline of Events
- 2024-07-08: CVE ID Assigned.
- 2025-07-08: Vulnerability Published.
- 2025-07-10: Analysis Awaited.
Exploitability & Real-World Risk
The exploitability of this vulnerability is relatively high due to its network-based attack vector and low attack complexity. In a real-world scenario, an attacker could repeatedly send invalid HTTP requests to the affected service, causing it to become unresponsive and unavailable to legitimate users. This can lead to data replication failures and impact business operations that rely on the replicated data.
Recommendations
- Apply the latest security patches provided by IBM. Refer to the IBM security advisory for specific instructions.
- Implement network-level access controls to restrict access to the InfoSphere Data Replication VSAM service from untrusted networks.
- Monitor the service logs for suspicious HTTP requests or patterns that may indicate an attempted denial-of-service attack.
- Consider using a web application firewall (WAF) to filter out malicious HTTP requests.
Technical Insight
The underlying cause of this vulnerability likely resides in the improper handling of HTTP requests within the log reading service. The service may not be validating the input data correctly, leading to a state where it crashes or becomes unresponsive when processing malformed requests. This could involve issues like missing boundary checks, incorrect data type handling, or flawed error handling routines.
Credit to Researcher(s)
This vulnerability was reported to IBM through their responsible disclosure program. Specific researcher credit may be available in IBM's official advisory.
References
Tags
#CVE-2024-56468 #IBM #InfoSphere #VSAM #z/OS #DoS #DenialOfService #SecurityVulnerability #NetworkSecurity
Summary: IBM InfoSphere Data Replication VSAM for z/OS Remote Source 11.4 is vulnerable to a denial-of-service attack. Sending invalid HTTP requests to the log reading service can disrupt operations. Apply the latest patches and monitor network traffic for suspicious activity.
CVE ID: CVE-2024-56468
Risk Analysis: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a denial-of-service condition, disrupting data replication services and impacting business operations that rely on the replicated data. The potential for data loss or corruption is also a concern.
Recommendation: Apply the latest security patches provided by IBM to address this vulnerability. Implement network-level access controls and monitor service logs for suspicious activity.
Timeline
- 2025-07-08: CVE-2024-56468 published by IBM.