CVE-2005-0417 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown "high risk" vulnerability in DB2 Universal Database 8.1 and earlier has unknown impact and attack vectors. NOTE: due to the delayed disclosure of details for this issue, this candidate may be SPLIT in the future. In addition, this may be a duplicate of other issues as reported by the vendor.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0417 represents a significant security concern within IBM DB2 Universal Database versions 8.1 and earlier, classified as high risk despite limited public information about its specific nature. This designation indicates that the flaw could potentially enable attackers to compromise database systems with severe consequences for data integrity and confidentiality. The delayed disclosure approach taken by IBM for this particular vulnerability suggests either the complexity of the issue or the need for coordinated remediation efforts across affected deployments. The uncertainty surrounding both attack vectors and impact parameters creates additional challenges for security professionals attempting to assess risk and implement appropriate defensive measures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability remains unspecified in the public record, which is unusual for a CVE entry that has been assigned a high risk classification. This lack of detail typically indicates either a critical flaw that requires careful handling to prevent exploitation or a vulnerability that may have been discovered through internal security assessments rather than public disclosure channels. The vulnerability's classification as affecting DB2 Universal Database 8.1 and earlier versions suggests it may be related to core database functionalities or administrative interfaces that were present in these legacy releases. Such vulnerabilities often stem from implementation flaws in database access controls, authentication mechanisms, or data processing routines that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access or manipulate database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability would be substantial for organizations relying on affected DB2 versions, as database systems typically contain sensitive organizational data including financial records, personal information, and proprietary business data. A successful exploitation could potentially lead to data theft, unauthorized modifications to database content, or complete system compromise. The high risk classification implies that the vulnerability may allow for privilege escalation or remote code execution capabilities, though the exact technical details remain undisclosed. Organizations with legacy DB2 installations would face particular risk as these older versions may not receive current security updates or patches, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability with caution given the lack of specific technical details and the delayed disclosure nature of the issue. The potential for this vulnerability to be a duplicate of other reported issues, as noted in the CVE description, suggests that organizations may need to monitor multiple vulnerability databases and vendor advisories for comprehensive coverage. Mitigation strategies would likely involve immediate migration to supported DB2 versions, implementation of network segmentation to limit database access, and enhanced monitoring of database activities for suspicious behavior. Organizations should also consider the implications of this vulnerability within the broader context of database security frameworks and may need to evaluate their overall database security posture. This situation aligns with ATT&CK framework concepts related to database access and privilege escalation techniques, though without specific technical details, precise mapping to particular attack patterns remains challenging. The vulnerability's classification as high risk in the context of DB2 8.1 and earlier versions demonstrates the importance of maintaining current database software and the potential consequences of running legacy systems without proper security controls.