CVE-2023-45184: Security Bulletin: IBM i Access Client Solutions is vulnerable to remote code execution and failing to secure passwords due to multiple vulnerabilities

Summary

IBM i Access Client Solutions is vulnerable to remote code execution due to a flaw which fails to authenticate the origin of a serialized object (CVE-2023-45185), and insecurely storing passwords by allowing the password encryption key to be retrieved (CVE-2023-45184) or decoded using a brute force attack (CVE-2023-45182). IBM has addressed these CVEs by providing a fix to IBM i Access Client Solutions as described in the remediation/fixes section.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID: CVE-2023-45184
DESCRIPTION: IBM i Access Client Solutions could allow an attacker to obtain a decryption key due to improper authority checks.
CVSS Base score: 6.2
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/268270 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)

CVEID: CVE-2023-45182
DESCRIPTION: IBM i Access Client Solutions is vulnerable to having its key for an encrypted password decoded. By somehow gaining access to the encrypted password, a local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain the password to other systems.
CVSS Base score: 7.1
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/268265 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N)

CVEID: CVE-2023-45185
DESCRIPTION: IBM i Access Client Solutions could allow an attacker to execute remote code. Due to improper authority checks the attacker could perform operations on the PC under the user’s authority.
CVSS Base score: 7.4
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/268273 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L)

Affected Products and Versions

Affected Product(s)

Version(s)

IBM i Access Family

1.1.2 - 1.1.4,
1.1.4.3 - 1.1.9.3

Remediation/Fixes

The issue can be fixed by upgrading to version 1.1.9.4 or later. See IBM i Access Client Solutions updates for the latest version available.

Product(s)

Version(s)

Remediation/Fix/Instructions

IBM i Access Client Solutions

1.1.2 - 1.1.4,
1.1.4.3 - 1.1.9.3

The current version of IBM i Access Client Solutions is available at Downloads.

Or you may download it from the general IBM i software site at
Entitled Systems Support (ESS).

Workarounds and Mitigations

None.

References

Off

Acknowledgement

The vulnerability was reported to IBM by Michał Majchrowicz and Maksymilian Kubiak [AFINE Team].

Change History

08 Dec 2023: Initial Publication

*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.

Disclaimer

According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an “industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response.” IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES “"AS IS"” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. “Affected Products and Versions” referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.

Document Location

Worldwide

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