CVE-2015-8519
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedBuffer overflow in the server in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack 5.5.x and 6.x before 6.1.12.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted command, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8520, CVE-2015-8521, and CVE-2015-8522.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceBuffer overflow vulnerability in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted commands. This is a pre-authentication vulnerability affecting versions 5.5.x and 6.x before 6.1.12.2, rated critical due to the potential for complete system compromise without user interaction.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data= 5.5.0= 6.1.0= 6.1.0.1= 6.1.1= 6.1.1.0= 6.1.2= 6.1.2.0= 6.1.3= 6.1.3.0= 6.1.4= 6.1.4.0= 6.1.5CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify if IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server is installedCheck running processes for FastBack server processes (such as fbkrsrv.exe on Windows or corresponding processes on Linux/Unix) or look in installed programs. On Windows, check Add/Remove Programs or the installation directory (typically C:\Program Files\IBM\Tivoli\TSM\FastBack or similar). On Linux/Unix, check /opt or the installation path for FastBack directories.Affected if IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server software is found on the system
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Determine the installed FastBack server versionLocate the version information in the FastBack installation. Common locations include: a version file in the installation directory, the server splash screen or About dialog, or the Windows registry under HKLM\Software\IBM\Tivoli\Storage Manager\FastBack\Server. On Linux/Unix, check the output of the server binary with version flags or examine setup.ini files.Affected if The installed version cannot be determined or is not visible
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Compare your installed version against the affected rangeReview the version you found. Affected versions are: 5.5.0 and 6.x versions before 6.1.12.2, specifically 6.1.0, 6.1.0.1, 6.1.1, 6.1.1.0, 6.1.2, 6.1.2.0, 6.1.3, 6.1.3.0, 6.1.4, 6.1.4.0, and 6.1.5. Compare your installed version to this list.Affected if The installed version is 5.5.0 or any 6.1.x version below 6.1.12.2
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Verify if the FastBack server is listening on network portsCheck if the FastBack server service is running and listening on network ports. Use netstat -an or similar commands to see listening TCP/UDP ports. FastBack typically uses ports in the 11460 range or check documentation for default ports. Confirm the server process is actively bound to network interfaces.Affected if The FastBack server is running and exposed on network ports (especially if accessible from untrusted networks)
The environment is affected if IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server is installed and the version is 5.5.0 or any 6.1.x version before 6.1.12.2, with the server running and network-accessible.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scopedUpgrade IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack to version 6.1.12.2 or later. Until patched, restrict network access to the FastBack server port and implement network segmentation to minimize exposure.
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack 6.1.12.2 or later
- 1. Identify the current version of IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server by checking the installed software version
- 2. Obtain IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack version 6.1.12.2 or later from IBM Fix Central or authorized IBM distribution channels
- 3. Create a complete backup of the current TSM FastBack configuration, database, and any critical data
- 4. Stop the TSM FastBack server service before applying the upgrade
- 5. Install IBM TSM FastBack 6.1.12.2 or later following IBM's standard upgrade documentation
- 6. Start the TSM FastBack server service after installation completes
- 7. Verify the upgrade was successful by checking the server version and ensuring all services are running properly
- 8. Test that normal backup/restore operations function correctly
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation4.0 h
- Testing6.0 h
- Review / QA4.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2015-8519 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2015-8519 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
- No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data