Tivoli Storage Manager
CVE-2016-8937
CRITICAL
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Authentication mechanism validation
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Defense Evasion, Initial Access The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.23%. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could bypass authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
The IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1) default authentication protocol is vulnerable to a brute force attack due to disclosing too much information during authentication. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Improper Authentication vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Implement multi-factor authentication, enforce strong password policies, use proven authentication frameworks.
Affects your stack
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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Improper Authentication (CWE-287), which allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access. The IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1) default authentication protocol is vulnerable to a brute force attack due to disclosing too much information during authentication. An attacker could gain user or administrative access to the TSM server. IBM X-Force ID: 118750. Affected products include: Ibm Tivoli Storage Manager.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionCVE.org
The IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1) default authentication protocol is vulnerable to a brute force attack due to disclosing too much information during authentication. An attacker could gain user or administrative access to the TSM server. IBM X-Force ID: 118750.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
More in Tivoli Storage Manager
View allIBM Tivoli Storage Manager (IBM Spectrum Protect) 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 7.1 does not perform sufficient authority checking
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Operations Center is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery which could allow an attacker t
The IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (IBM Spectrum Protect) AIX client is vulnerable to a buffer overflow when Journal-Based B
IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1 (formerly Tivoli Storage Manager) disclosed unencrypted login credentials to Vmware vCe
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Server 7.1 could allow an authenticated user with TSM administrator privileges to cause a buf
IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1 dsmc and dsmcad processes incorrectly accumulate TCP/IP sockets in a CLOSE_WAIT state.
Buffer overflow in dsmtca in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) through 5.5.4.0, 6.1.0 through 6.1.5.4, 6.2.0 through 6.2.
dsmtca in the client in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) 6.3 before 6.3.2.3, 6.4 before 6.4.2.2, and 7.1 before 7.1.1.3
Stack-based buffer overflow in dsmtca in the client in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) 5.4 through 5.4.3.6, 5.5 through
The Reporting and Monitoring component in Tivoli Monitoring in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager 6.3 before 6.3.6 and 7.1 befor
Tivoli Storage Manager Operations Center could allow a local user to take over a previously logged in user due to sessio
Race condition in the client in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) 5.4.0.0 through 5.4.3.6, 5.5.0.0 through 5.5.4.3, 6.1.0
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB