CVE-2006-3857 in Informix Dynamic Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) before 9.40.TC6 and 10.00 before 10.00.TC3 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via (1) the getname function, as used by (a) _sq_remview, (b) _sq_remproc, (c) _sq_remperms, (d) _sq_distfetch, and (e) _sq_dcatalog; and the (2) SET DEBUG FILE, (3) IFX_FILE_TO_FILE, (4) FILETOCLOB, (5) LOTOFILE, and (6) DBINFO functions (product defect IDs 171649, 171367, 171387, 171391, 171906, 172179).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3857 represents a critical security flaw affecting IBM Informix Dynamic Server versions prior to 9.40.TC6 and 10.00.TC3. This issue encompasses multiple buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within several core database functions, creating a significant attack surface that could compromise database integrity and system security. These buffer overflows occur when the server processes specific database operations that involve string handling and memory allocation without adequate bounds checking.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves multiple attack vectors that leverage different database functions and operations. The primary attack surface includes the getname function which is utilized by several internal database procedures such as _sq_remview, _sq_remproc, _sq_remperms, _sq_distfetch, and _sq_dcatalog. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to the SET DEBUG FILE command and several file handling functions including IFX_FILE_TO_FILE, FILETOCLOB, LOTOFILE, and DBINFO. These functions fail to properly validate input lengths and buffer boundaries, allowing attackers to craft malicious inputs that exceed allocated memory space and overwrite adjacent memory regions. The underlying flaw manifests as a classic buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data is copied into fixed-size buffers without proper size validation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to database environments as it allows authenticated remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the database service account. The implications extend beyond simple data compromise, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive database information, modify or delete critical data, and potentially establish persistent access to the database infrastructure. The vulnerability affects database administrators and applications that rely on IBM Informix for data management, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database security is paramount. Organizations using affected versions of IDS face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise if not properly mitigated.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would need to identify and exploit these specific functions to gain execution privileges. The attack requires authentication to the database system, making it less accessible than fully unauthenticated exploits but still highly dangerous within trusted network environments. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems, implementing network segmentation to limit database access, and monitoring for suspicious database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Database administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as least privilege access, regular security audits, and intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor database traffic for exploitation indicators.
Organizations should prioritize updating their IBM Informix Dynamic Server installations to versions 9.40.TC6 or 10.00.TC3 to address these vulnerabilities. The patching process should be carefully planned to minimize service disruption while ensuring complete protection against the identified buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected versions and implement network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing comprehensive security practices to protect against sophisticated attack vectors that can lead to complete system compromise.