CVE-2007-4272 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in IBM DB2 UDB 8 before Fixpak 15 and 9.1 before Fixpak 3 allow local users to create arbitrary files via (1) unspecified vectors where an attacker s umask is honored, (2) /etc/ld.so.preload, (3) certain "cron data file locations", and other unspecified vectors possibly involving the (4) OSSEMEMDBG or (5) TRC_LOG_FILE environment variable in db2licd (db2licm).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4272 represents a significant local privilege escalation risk within IBM DB2 Universal Database versions 8 before Fixpak 15 and 9.1 before Fixpak 3. This weakness stems from improper handling of file creation operations and environment variable processing within the db2licd utility, which is responsible for license management and system licensing operations. The vulnerability manifests through multiple attack vectors that collectively enable a local attacker to manipulate the filesystem and potentially escalate privileges beyond the intended scope of the database service.
The technical flaw involves the improper handling of umask values during file creation operations, allowing attackers to create files with unintended permissions and ownership. This issue is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the db2licd utility, which runs with elevated privileges during license management operations. The vulnerability also affects the /etc/ld.so.preload mechanism, where malicious libraries could be loaded into processes that use the database licensing utilities, creating a persistent backdoor. Additionally, the flaw extends to cron data file locations and environment variables such as OSSEMEMDBG and TRC_LOG_FILE, which are processed by db2licd without proper sanitization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local attackers to achieve privilege escalation and system compromise through relatively simple means. The attack surface is broad due to multiple exploitation vectors, making it difficult to fully secure against all potential attack paths. When combined with other system weaknesses, this vulnerability could allow attackers to gain root privileges or at minimum elevated access to the database server environment. The impact extends beyond immediate privilege escalation to include potential data exfiltration, service disruption, and persistence mechanisms through manipulated system files.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate installation of the appropriate IBM Fixpaks, specifically Fixpak 15 for DB2 8 and Fixpak 3 for DB2 9.1, which address the underlying file creation and environment variable handling issues. System administrators should also implement proper file system permissions and audit the /etc/ld.so.preload file for unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-73 and CWE-22 categories, representing path traversal and improper privilege handling issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and persistence mechanisms, particularly T1068 and T1546. Regular security audits should monitor for unauthorized changes to critical system files and environment variable configurations, while implementing least privilege principles for database service accounts to minimize potential impact if exploitation occurs.