Tivoli Storage Manager FastbackApplication · Ibm

CVE-2015-8519

CRITICAL · 9.8 CVSS v3.0 Published 2016-04-05
Mitigation only
No fix yet — a mitigation exists. There is no fixed release. A documented workaround reduces exposure in the meantime.
See remediation →
100/100
Remediation priority · Urgent
Remotely reachable No privileges Zero-click

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 · unedited
Buffer 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 confidence

Buffer 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.

MitigationUpgrade 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.

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
Tivoli Storage Manager FastbackApplication
Affected:= 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= 6.1.5

CVSS 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 checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Identify if IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server is installed
    Check 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
  2. Determine the installed FastBack server version
    Locate 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
  3. Compare your installed version against the affected range
    Review 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
  4. Verify if the FastBack server is listening on network ports
    Check 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.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

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 · scoped
Mitigation available No clean upgrade yet — mitigate in the meantime
Mitigation

Upgrade 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.

Recommended fix High confidence

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack 6.1.12.2 or later

  1. 1. Identify the current version of IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack server by checking the installed software version
  2. 2. Obtain IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack version 6.1.12.2 or later from IBM Fix Central or authorized IBM distribution channels
  3. 3. Create a complete backup of the current TSM FastBack configuration, database, and any critical data
  4. 4. Stop the TSM FastBack server service before applying the upgrade
  5. 5. Install IBM TSM FastBack 6.1.12.2 or later following IBM's standard upgrade documentation
  6. 6. Start the TSM FastBack server service after installation completes
  7. 7. Verify the upgrade was successful by checking the server version and ensuring all services are running properly
  8. 8. Test that normal backup/restore operations function correctly
Caveat Review IBM's upgrade documentation for version 6.1.12.2 for any configuration or compatibility changes from earlier 5.5.x and 6.x versions

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Tivoli Storage Manager Fastback Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation4.0 h
  • Implementation4.0 h
  • Testing6.0 h
  • Review / QA4.0 h
18.0 hours of engineering $3,140
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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2015-8519 in production — separate from our analysis above.

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What this is

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What belongs here
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  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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