CVE-2007-1089 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 Universal Database (UDB) 9.1 GA through 9.1 FP1 allows local users with table SELECT privileges to perform unauthorized UPDATE and DELETE SQL commands via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1089 represents a significant authorization bypass flaw within IBM DB2 Universal Database version 9.1, specifically affecting the General Availability release through Fix Pack 1. This security weakness resides in the database management system's privilege validation mechanisms, creating a scenario where authenticated users with minimal table SELECT permissions can execute higher-privileged operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical flaw in the principle of least privilege enforcement, where the database fails to properly validate user permissions before executing UPDATE and DELETE operations. The affected IBM DB2 UDB 9.1 versions contain a logic error in their access control implementation that allows malicious users to circumvent normal security boundaries. This particular weakness manifests as an insufficient authorization check that does not adequately verify whether a user possesses the necessary privileges to perform data modification operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unknown vectors that likely involve manipulation of SQL execution contexts or query parsing mechanisms within the database engine. Attackers with mere SELECT privileges can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized data modifications, effectively escalating their privileges through the database's internal processing logic. This authorization bypass allows for unauthorized data alteration or deletion, potentially leading to data corruption, loss of integrity, or complete data compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the database's security model, where the system fails to properly enforce access control policies at the operational level. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input validation and privilege verification, where the database engine trusts the execution context without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1089 is severe for organizations relying on IBM DB2 UDB 9.1, as it creates a persistent risk for data integrity breaches and unauthorized modifications. Systems running affected database versions become vulnerable to insider threats or compromised accounts, where attackers can leverage this flaw to modify or delete critical business data without proper authorization. The vulnerability affects the database's core security model and can potentially lead to complete data compromise, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques. Organizations may experience significant operational disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to unauthorized data modifications. The impact is particularly concerning in environments where database administrators have not implemented additional security controls or monitoring mechanisms to detect such unauthorized activities. This vulnerability directly violates the security principle of least privilege and can result in cascading effects throughout the database environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1089 should prioritize immediate implementation of IBM's official security patches and updates to move beyond the vulnerable DB2 UDB 9.1 GA through FP1 versions. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring and logging of all database activities, particularly focusing on unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and unusual UPDATE/DELETE operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit local database access and reduce the attack surface. Database administrators should conduct thorough privilege audits to ensure that users have only the minimum required permissions for their operational needs. Additionally, implementing database activity monitoring tools and security information event management systems can help detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include disabling unnecessary database features and ensuring that all database users are properly authenticated and authorized through secure authentication mechanisms. Organizations should consider implementing database firewall solutions and query filtering to prevent unauthorized operations from being executed against the database system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a specific instance where the database fails to properly enforce access control mechanisms as outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.