# CVE-2021-29740: Other in Spectrum Scale

> A format string vulnerability in IBM Spectrum Scale allows attackers to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges to root.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.0/I:H/S:U/AC:L/A:H/PR:N/C:H/AV:L/UI:N/RL:O/E:U/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Jun 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xrq4-cxfp-74j4

## What is CVE-2021-29740?

CVE-2021-29740 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ibm Spectrum Scale, published on 1 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM Spectrum Scale 5.0.0 through 5.0.5.6 and 5.1.0 through 5.1.0.3 system core component is affected by a format string security vulnerability. An attacker could execute arbitrary code in the context of process memory, potentially escalating their system privileges and taking control over the entire system with root access. IBM X-Force ID: 201474.

Weakness: CWE-134 (Use of Externally-Controlled Format String)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-29740?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Spectrum Scale.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-29740?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-29740 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-29740 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-29740 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ibm Spectrum Scale

- [CVE-2019-4715](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4715/): Command injection in Spectrum Scale (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-4558](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4558/): Privilege escalation in Spectrum Scale (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2020-4217](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4217/): Denial of service in Spectrum Scale (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2020-4273](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4273/): Command injection in Spectrum Scale (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2020-4411](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4411/): Denial of service in Spectrum Scale (high 7.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-29740 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-29740 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ibm Spectrum Scale, published on 1 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-29740 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Ibm Spectrum Scale. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29740/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29740/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-29740
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29740
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-29740

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29740/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.