CVE-2006-3861 in Informix Dynamic Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) before 9.40.xC7 and 10.00 before 10.00.xC3 does not use database creation permissions, which allows remote authenticated users to create arbitrary databases.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3861 affects IBM Informix Dynamic Server versions prior to specific patch levels, creating a critical security weakness in database access controls. This issue stems from the server's failure to properly enforce database creation permissions, allowing authenticated users to bypass normal access controls and create databases without proper authorization. The flaw exists within the permission model of the database management system, specifically in how it handles database creation requests from authenticated users. This represents a significant deviation from standard database security practices where creation operations should require explicit privileges and proper authentication verification before allowing new database instances to be established.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote authenticated users to exploit a permission bypass mechanism that should normally restrict database creation operations. When users authenticate to the IDS system, they are granted certain privileges but the system fails to properly validate whether these authenticated users possess the necessary permissions to create new databases. This creates an environment where any authenticated user can potentially create databases regardless of their role or assigned privileges, effectively undermining the principle of least privilege that forms the foundation of secure database administration. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the database system, where the permission checking mechanisms fail to properly validate user credentials against database creation policies.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to database security and data integrity. An attacker who gains authenticated access to the system can exploit this weakness to create unauthorized databases, potentially leading to data proliferation, resource exhaustion, and unauthorized data storage. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized database creation as it allows for potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can establish databases with elevated permissions or create databases containing malicious data. Organizations using affected IDS versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their database infrastructure, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely by authenticated users without requiring additional privileges or specialized attack vectors.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, specifically focusing on insufficient permissions for database creation operations. This weakness directly impacts the database's security model and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant security patches from IBM, reviewing and tightening database creation permissions, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to database servers. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized database creation activities and implementing proper access control reviews can help detect exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful attention to patch management procedures and thorough testing of updated systems to ensure that the vulnerability is properly resolved without introducing compatibility issues in existing database operations.