CVE-2005-4869 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) to_char and (2) to_date function in IBM DB2 8.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (application crash) via an empty string in the second parameter, which causes a null pointer dereference.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4869 affects IBM DB2 8.1 database management system and represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited by local attackers. This issue specifically impacts two fundamental database functions: to_char and to_date, which are commonly used for data type conversions within SQL queries. The flaw manifests when these functions receive an empty string as the second parameter, creating a scenario where the application encounters a null pointer dereference condition that ultimately leads to application crash and system unavailability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the database engine's string conversion routines. When the to_char and to_date functions process an empty string parameter, the underlying code fails to properly handle the null pointer reference that occurs during the conversion process. This weakness directly maps to CWE-476, which defines null pointer dereference as a condition where a program attempts to access memory through a null pointer reference, resulting in application termination. The vulnerability exists at the function level within DB2's internal processing mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate database operations that users might perform during routine database interactions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to database availability and system stability. Local users with access to the database environment can exploit this weakness to cause repeated application crashes, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as system administrators must intervene to restart database services, potentially causing data access interruptions and service degradation. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where database functions are frequently called, as each invocation with malformed parameters can trigger the crash condition. The local privilege requirement means that attackers do not need network access to exploit this vulnerability, making it especially concerning for systems where local access is not properly restricted.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network disruption through service exhaustion or application crashes. Organizations running IBM DB2 8.1 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and implementing input validation controls at the application level. System administrators should also consider monitoring for unusual patterns of database function calls that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized users have local access to database systems, reducing the attack surface for this particular vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in database systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of core database functions to prevent similar issues in future releases.