Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in Linux Kernel affects SAN Volume Controller, Storwize family and FlashSystem V9000 products (CVE-2016-5696)

Summary

Vulnerability CVE-2016-5696 in the Linux kernel affects SAN Volume Controller, Storwize family and FlashSystem V9000 products’ IP interface.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID: CVE-2016-5696**
DESCRIPTION:** Linux Kernel could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by the failure to properly determine the rate of challenge ACK segments by net/ipv4/tcp_input.c. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability using a blind in-window attack to inject or control the contents of a TCP stream in a connection between a Linux device and its connected client or server, making it easier to hijack TCP sessions.
CVSS Base Score: 5.9
CVSS Temporal Score: See https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/116101 for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)

Affected Products and Versions

IBM SAN Volume Controller
IBM Storwize V7000
IBM Storwize V5000
IBM Storwize V3700
IBM Storwize V3500
IBM FlashSystem V9000

All products are affected when running supported releases 7.1 to 7.8. For unsupported versions of the above products, IBM recommends upgrading to a fixed, supported version of the product.

Remediation/Fixes

IBM recommends that you fix this vulnerability by upgrading affected versions of IBM SAN Volume Controller, IBM Storwize V7000, V5000, V3700 and V3500 to the following code levels or higher:

7.6.1.7
7.7.1.6
7.8.0.2
7.8.1.0

Latest SAN Volume Controller Code
Latest Storwize V7000 Code
Latest Storwize V5000 Code
Latest Storwize V3700 Code
Latest Storwize V3500 Code

For IBM FlashSystem V9000, upgrade to the following code levels or higher:

7.6.1.7
7.7.1.6
7.8.0.2
7.8.1.0

Latest FlashSystem V9000 Code

Workarounds and Mitigations

Although IBM recommends that you install a level of code with a fix for this vulnerability, you can mitigate, although not eliminate, your risk until you have done so by ensuring that all users who have access to the system are authenticated by another security system such as a firewall.