CVE-2007-3676 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 Universal Database (UDB) Administration Server (DAS) 8 before Fix Pack 16 and 9 before Fix Pack 4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via modified pointer values in unspecified remote administration requests, which triggers memory corruption or other invalid memory access. NOTE: this might be the same issue as CVE-2008-0698.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3676 affects IBM DB2 Universal Database Administration Server (DAS) versions 8 before Fix Pack 16 and 9 before Fix Pack 4, representing a critical security flaw that exposes systems to remote exploitation. This issue manifests through malformed pointer values in remote administration requests that are processed by the DAS component, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory structures within the database server environment. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to system instability and potential code execution. The attack vector requires remote access to the database administration server, making it particularly dangerous for systems exposed to untrusted networks or internet-facing services.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the DAS processing logic, where the system fails to properly validate pointer references in administrative requests. When malformed pointer values are submitted through remote administration interfaces, the DAS component attempts to dereference these invalid memory addresses, resulting in memory corruption or invalid memory access conditions. This type of vulnerability is classified as a memory safety issue that can manifest as buffer overflows, heap corruption, or null pointer dereferences depending on the specific implementation details. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common manifestations of memory corruption vulnerabilities in database server environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it potentially enables remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to database systems. A successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the ability to manipulate database content through elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects database administration functionality specifically, which means that attackers could potentially gain access to administrative controls over database servers, leading to widespread system compromise. Organizations running affected DB2 versions face significant risk, particularly those with internet-facing database administration interfaces or systems that have not applied the relevant security patches. The potential for remote code execution creates a high-risk scenario for database environments that may be targeted by sophisticated threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application to the affected DB2 versions, with particular attention to installing Fix Pack 16 for DB2 8 and Fix Pack 4 for DB2 9. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to database administration interfaces, restrict remote administrative access to trusted networks, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious administrative traffic patterns. Additional defensive measures include implementing strong authentication controls, disabling unnecessary administrative services, and conducting regular security assessments of database server configurations. The vulnerability's potential overlap with CVE-2008-0698 suggests that organizations should verify their patch status across all affected versions and consider comprehensive database security reviews. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving remote service exploitation and privilege escalation, making it particularly relevant for organizations implementing defensive security measures against advanced persistent threats.