CVE-2006-7213 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Firebird 1.5 allows remote authenticated users without SYSDBA and owner permissions to overwrite a database by creating a database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-7213 represents a significant security flaw in Firebird database management system version 1.5 that enables remote authenticated users to perform unauthorized database overwrites. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the database creation process, allowing users who do not possess SYSDBA privileges or ownership rights to manipulate database files through carefully crafted database creation requests. The flaw exists at the core authentication and authorization layers of the database system, where proper permission checks fail to validate whether a user has the legitimate authority to overwrite existing database files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user attempts to create a database with a name that corresponds to an existing database file within the system. The Firebird 1.5 implementation does not properly validate the user's permissions before proceeding with the database creation operation, which can result in the overwrite of existing database files without proper authorization. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control, as the system fails to enforce the necessary checks that would prevent unauthorized modifications to database resources. The vulnerability specifically targets the database creation API endpoints and lacks proper input validation and permission verification mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss scenarios, as it can enable attackers to disrupt database services, potentially causing system downtime and data corruption. Remote authenticated users who exploit this vulnerability can overwrite critical database files, leading to complete data loss or service disruption that may require extensive recovery procedures. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication credentials, not elevated privileges, making it accessible to users who have legitimate access to the system but should not have modification rights to database resources. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of database systems, creating potential business continuity issues and data recovery challenges.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access control validation during database creation operations and ensuring that all user actions are properly authenticated against the system's permission model. System administrators should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Firebird that address this authorization flaw, as the vulnerability exists at the core database engine level. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit database access to authorized users only can help reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also conduct thorough security reviews of their database access controls and implement proper monitoring for unauthorized database creation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The threat model for this vulnerability maps to attack techniques involving privilege escalation and unauthorized data modification, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion categories.