CVE-2005-4738 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 Universal Database (UDB) 810 before ESE AIX 5765F4100 does not ensure that a user has execute privileges before permitting object creation based on routines, which allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4738 represents a critical access control flaw in IBM DB2 Universal Database version 8.10 before ESE AIX 5765F4100. This security weakness stems from insufficient privilege validation during object creation processes that rely on database routines, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges within the database environment. The flaw specifically affects the database's authorization mechanisms, where the system fails to properly verify execute permissions before allowing users to create objects based on existing routines, thereby undermining the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to database security architectures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the database engine level where routine-based object creation processes lack proper authorization checks. When users attempt to create objects such as views, procedures, or functions that are derived from existing database routines, the system should verify that the user possesses the necessary execute privileges on the underlying routine before permitting the creation operation. However, in affected versions of DB2 UDB, this validation step is bypassed or inadequately implemented, allowing authenticated users to create objects that inherit the privileges of the routine owner, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive database resources and potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure. Remote authenticated users who can successfully exploit this flaw can effectively bypass normal database access controls and execute operations that should be restricted to privileged users. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where database administrators often delegate specific privileges to users while maintaining strict controls over routine execution, as it undermines these carefully designed security boundaries and can lead to data exposure, unauthorized modifications, or complete system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and hotfixes that address the privilege validation issue in DB2 UDB. System administrators should also review and tighten database access controls, ensuring that routine execution privileges are properly managed and that users are granted only the minimum necessary permissions. Additionally, monitoring and logging of object creation activities should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to database security models. The attack surface for this vulnerability is significant, as it requires only authenticated access to the database, making it particularly dangerous in environments where database credentials may be compromised through various attack vectors.