IBM SECURITY ADVISORY
First Issued: Mon Feb 24 15:15:11 CST 2025
The most recent version of this document is available here:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/openssl_advisory44.asc
Security Bulletin: AIX is vulnerable to information disclosure
(CVE-2024-13176) or arbitrary code execution or a denial of service
(CVE-2024-9143) due to OpenSSL
===============================================================================
SUMMARY:
Vulnerabilities in OpenSSL could allow an attacker to recover a private
key (CVE-2024-13176) or execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of
service (CVE-2024-9143). OpenSSL is used by AIX as part of AIX's secure
network communications.
===============================================================================
VULNERABILITY DETAILS:
CVEID: CVE-2024-13176
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-13176
DESCRIPTION: Issue summary: A timing side-channel which could potentially
allow recovering the private key exists in the ECDSA signature
computation. Impact summary: A timing side-channel in ECDSA signature
computations could allow recovering the private key by an attacker.
However, measuring the timing would require either local access to
the signing application or a very fast network connection with low
latency. There is a timing signal of around 300 nanoseconds when the
top word of the inverted ECDSA nonce value is zero. This can happen
with significant probability only for some of the supported elliptic
curves. In particular the NIST P-521 curve is affected. To be able to
measure this leak, the attacker process must either be located in the
same physical computer or must have a very fast network connection
with low latency. For that reason the severity of this vulnerability
is Low.
CVSS Base Score: 4.1
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L)
CVEID: CVE-2024-9143
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-9143
DESCRIPTION: OpenSSL could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary
code on the system, caused by an out-of-bounds memory read or write
flaw due to the use of the low-level GF(2^m) elliptic curve APIs with
untrusted explicit values for the field polynomial. By sending a
specially crafted request, an attacker could exploit this
vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or cause the application to
crash.
CVSS Base Score: 3.7
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L)
AFFECTED PRODUCTS AND VERSIONS:
AIX 7.2, 7.3
VIOS 3.1, 4.1
The following fileset levels are vulnerable:
key_fileset = osrcaix
Fileset Lower Level Upper Level KEY
------------------------------------------------------
openssl.base 1.1.2.0 1.1.2.2401 key_w_fs
openssl.base 3.0.0.0 3.0.15.1000 key_w_fs
Note:
A. 0.9.8, 1.0.1 OpenSSL versions are out-of-support. Support for
OpenSSL 1.0.2 version ended in December 2023, and support for
OpenSSL 1.1.1 version ended in December 2024. Considering long
term support, customers are advised to upgrade to OpenSSL 3.0
version.
To find out whether the affected filesets are installed on your systems,
refer to the lslpp command found in the AIX user's guide.
Example: lslpp -L | grep -i openssl.base
REMEDIATION:
A. FIXES
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.
The fixes can be downloaded via https from:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/openssl_fix44.tar
The links above are to a tar file containing this signed
advisory, fix packages, and OpenSSL signatures for each package.
The fixes below include prerequisite checking. This will
enforce the correct mapping between the fixes and AIX
Technology Levels.
Note that the tar file contains Interim fixes that are based on
OpenSSL version, and AIX OpenSSL fixes are cumulative. If an
OpenSSL fileset with VMRF higher than the affected level listed
above is available from the web download site, then that fileset
is the recommended remediation.
You must be on the 'prereq for installation' level before
applying the interim fix. This may require installing a new
level(prereq version) first. Latest level of OpenSSL fileset is
available from the web download site:
https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp&S_PKG=openssl
AIX Level Interim Fix (*.Z) Fileset Name(prereq for installation) KEY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.2, 7.3 112401sa.250204.epkg.Z openssl.base(1.1.2.2401) key_w_fix
7.2, 7.3 301510sa.250212.epkg.Z openssl.base(3.0.15.1000) key_w_fix
VIOS Level Interim Fix (*.Z) Fileset Name(prereq for installation) KEY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1,4.1 112401sa.250204.epkg.Z openssl.base(1.1.2.2401) key_w_fix
3.1, 4.1 301510sa.250212.epkg.Z openssl.base(3.0.15.1000) key_w_fix
To extract the fixes from the tar file:
tar xvf openssl_fix44.tar
cd openssl_fix44
Verify you have retrieved the fixes intact:
The checksums below were generated using the
"openssl dgst -sha256 [file]" command as the following:
openssl dgst -sha256 filename KEY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8201b31a20aa97c453db629a2efe53fb21af471cf3dab0c3d97559f33f00aa29 1122401sa.250204.epkg.Z key_w_csum
cd969c0ef51bf54787734042b21ce0e8b390127f6f8a95aa9d841410a795e2da 301510sa.250212.epkg.Z key_w_csum
These sums should match exactly. The OpenSSL signatures in the tar
file and on this advisory can also be used to verify the
integrity of the fixes. If the sums or signatures cannot be
confirmed, contact IBM AIX Support at
https://ibm.com/support/ and describe the discrepancy.
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [ifix_file].sig [ifix_file]
Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/openssl_advisory44.asc.sig
B. FIX AND INTERIM FIX INSTALLATION
Interim fixes have had limited functional and regression
testing but not the full regression testing that takes place
for Service Packs; however, IBM does fully support them.
Interim fix management documentation can be found at:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/managing-interim-fixes-aix
To preview an interim fix installation:
emgr -e ipkg_name -p # where ipkg_name is the name of the
# interim fix package being previewed.
To install an interim fix package:
emgr -e ipkg_name -X # where ipkg_name is the name of the
# interim fix package being installed.
WORKAROUNDS AND MITIGATIONS:
None.
===============================================================================
CONTACT US:
Note: Keywords labeled as KEY in this document are used for parsing
purposes.
If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email,
please visit "My Notifications":
https://www.ibm.com/support/mynotifications
Contact IBM Support for questions related to this announcement:
https://ibm.com/support/
For information on how to securely verify AIX security bulletins and fixes:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6985269
To obtain the OpenSSL public key that can be used to verify the
signed advisories and ifixes:
Download the key from our web page:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/systems_p_os_aix_security_pubkey.txt
To verify the AIX/VIOS security bulletin:
Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/openssl_advisory44.asc.sig
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]
Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any
assistance.
REFERENCES:
Review this information as needed, no action required.
Complete CVSS v3 Guide:
https://www.first.org/cvss/user-guide
On-line Calculator v3:
https://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0
RELATED INFORMATION:
Security Bulletin: AIX is vulnerable to information disclosure
(CVE-2024-13176) or arbitrary code execution or a denial of service
(CVE-2024-9143) due to OpenSSL
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7184055
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
None.
CHANGE HISTORY:
First Issued: Mon Feb 24 15:15:11 CST 2025
===============================================================================
*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.