CVE-2005-3569 in DB2 Content Manager
Summary
by MITRE
INSO service in IBM DB2 Content Manager before 8.2 Fix Pack 10 on AIX allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via unknown attack vectors involving LZH files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3569 affects IBM DB2 Content Manager version 8.2 Fix Pack 9 and earlier on AIX operating systems. This issue specifically targets the INSO service component within the database content management system, creating a significant security concern that could be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt system operations. The vulnerability manifests through improper handling of LZH compressed files during the content processing workflow, leading to application instability and potential system crashes.
The technical flaw resides in the INSO service's insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms when processing LZH archive files. LZH files are compressed archives that utilize the Lempel-Ziv-Huffman compression algorithm, commonly used for data compression in various computing environments. When the INSO service encounters malformed or specially crafted LZH files, it fails to properly validate the file structure and compression parameters, resulting in memory corruption or stack overflow conditions that ultimately cause the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly. This represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability pattern, though the specific implementation details involve the decompression and parsing logic within the content management service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited to create persistent denial of service conditions that may require system restarts and manual intervention to restore normal operations. Organizations relying on IBM DB2 Content Manager for critical document management and content storage services face significant operational risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack vectors are particularly concerning because they involve legitimate file processing operations that could be triggered through normal content upload procedures, making detection and prevention challenging. System administrators may experience unexpected downtime and service interruptions that could affect business continuity and user productivity across the organization.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate application of IBM's official security patches and fix packs, specifically targeting IBM DB2 Content Manager 8.2 Fix Pack 10 or later versions. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks and users. Additionally, regular monitoring and logging of content processing activities can help detect anomalous file handling patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for denial of service attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing file type validation and content inspection mechanisms to filter out potentially malicious LZH files before they reach the vulnerable processing components. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of database content management systems should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues that may exist in other components of the system infrastructure.