Summary

Modern processors utilizing speculative execution of SWAPGS instruction are susceptible to a vulnerability which can allow local unprivileged attackers to gather sensitive data via side channel attack. This vulnerability is referred to as the SWAPGS Attack.

Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information.

StorageGRID:
StorageGRID and StorageGRID Webscale do not provide mechanisms for running unprivileged third-party code and are not directly affected. For virtualized deployments, NetApp recommends working with your hypervisor and cloud platform vendors to ensure that your NetApp product is running on a secure and patched platform. For Docker-based deployments, NetApp recommends working with your operating system and hardware vendors to ensure that your NetApp product is running on a secure and patched platform.

SANtricity:
Unlike a general-purpose operating system, SANtricity does not provide mechanisms for running third-party code. Due to this behavior, SANtricity is not affected by the SWAPGS attack as it depends on the ability to run malicious code directly on the target system.

Element Software:
Unlike a general-purpose operating system, Element OS is a closed system that does not provide mechanisms for running third-party code. Due to this behavior, Element OS running on SolidFire or NetApp HCI nodes is not affected by the SWAPGS attack due to the need to run malicious code directly on the target system

Element Software Management Node:
The NetApp SolidFire Element OS Management Node provides console access for end users and therefore it is tracked as affected. The underlying hypervisor infrastructure should be patched by customer installation of ESXi patches and microcode updates. Customers running whitebox server should consult the manufacturer for microcode availability.

Vulnerability Scoring Details

Exploitation and Public Announcements

NetApp is aware of public discussion of this vulnerability.

References

• https://www.bitdefender.com/business/swapgs-attack.html

Affected Products

• Active IQ Unified Manager for VMware vSphere
• NetApp Cloud Backup (formerly AltaVault)
• NetApp SolidFire & HCI Management Node
• NetApp SteelStore Cloud Integrated Storage
• ONTAP Select Deploy administration utility

Products Not Affected

• AFF Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) - A700s
• Active IQ Unified Manager for Linux
• Active IQ Unified Manager for Microsoft Windows
• Active IQ mobile app
• Astra Trident
• Brocade Fabric Operating System Firmware
• Data ONTAP operating in 7-Mode
• E-Series SANtricity OS Controller Software 11.x
• E-Series SANtricity OS Controller Software 8.x
• E-Series SANtricity Unified Manager and Web Services Proxy
• Element HealthTools
• Element Plug-in for vCenter Server
• FAS/AFF BIOS - 8300/8700/A400/C400
• FAS/AFF Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) - C190/A150/A220/FAS2720/FAS2750
• Host Utilities - SAN for Linux
• Host Utilities - SAN for Windows
• IOM6 SAS Disk Shelf Firmware
• MetroCluster Tiebreaker for clustered Data ONTAP
• NetApp BlueXP
• NetApp Converged Systems Advisor Agent
• NetApp HCI Compute Node (Bootstrap OS)
• NetApp HCI Compute Node BIOS
• NetApp HCI Storage Node BIOS
• NetApp HCI Storage Nodes
• NetApp Manageability SDK
• NetApp NFS Plug-in for VMware VAAI
• NetApp ONTAP PowerShell Toolkit (PSTK)
• NetApp SolidFire & HCI Storage Node (Element Software)
• NetApp SolidFire Plug-in for vRealize Orchestrator (SolidFire vRO)
• NetApp VASA Provider for Clustered Data ONTAP 9.7 and above
• ONTAP 9 (formerly Clustered Data ONTAP)
• ONTAP Antivirus Connector
• OnCommand Insight
• OnCommand Workflow Automation
• Single Mailbox Recovery
• Snap Creator Framework
• SnapCenter
• SnapCenter Plug-in for VMware vSphere/BlueXP backup and Recovery for Virtual Machine
• SnapManager for Hyper-V
• SolidFire Storage Replication Adapter
• Storage Replication Adapter for Clustered Data ONTAP for VMware vSphere 9.7 and above
• StorageGRID (formerly StorageGRID Webscale)
• StorageGRID Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)
• StorageGRID9 (9.x and prior)
• System Manager 9.x
• Virtual Storage Console for VMware vSphere 9.7 and above

Software Versions and Fixes

NetApp's currently available patches are listed below.

Workarounds

None at this time.

Obtaining Software Fixes

Software fixes will be made available through the NetApp Support website in the Software Download section.

https://mysupport.netapp.com/site/downloads/

Customers who do not have access to the Support website should contact Technical Support at the number below to obtain the patches.

Contact Information

Check http://mysupport.netapp.com for further updates.
For questions, contact NetApp at:

Technical Support
mysupport.netapp.com
1 888 4 NETAPP (1 888 463 8277) (U.S. and Canada)
+00 800 44 638277 (EMEA/Europe)
+800 800 80 800 (Asia/Pacific)

Status of This Notice

Final.

This advisory should be considered the single source of current, up-to-date, authorized and accurate information from NetApp regarding Full Support products and versions.

This advisory is posted at the following link:
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/NTAP-20190809-0002

Revision History