CVE-2007-4669 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Services API in Firebird before 2.0.2 allows remote authenticated users without SYSDBA privileges to read the server log (firebird.log), aka CORE-1148.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4669 represents a significant security flaw in the Firebird database management system's Services API implementation. This issue affects Firebird versions prior to 2.0.2 and exposes a critical privilege escalation vector that allows authenticated users to access sensitive server log files without possessing the necessary administrative privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the server log file named firebird.log which contains detailed operational information about database activities, user connections, and system events that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain insights into the database infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests through improper access control mechanisms within the Services API component of Firebird. When authenticated users make specific API calls to retrieve server information, the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has adequate privileges to access the firebird.log file. This design oversight enables users who have established database connections but lack SYSDBA level permissions to bypass normal access restrictions and read sensitive log content that would typically be restricted to system administrators. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires only valid authentication credentials to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the firebird.log file contains substantial amounts of sensitive data including database connection details, user authentication attempts, system resource usage patterns, and potentially confidential operational information. Attackers could use this information to identify system configurations, user patterns, and potential security weaknesses within the database environment. The exposure of such information could facilitate more sophisticated attacks including credential harvesting, system reconnaissance, and targeted exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the database infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Firebird for critical data storage and processing where unauthorized access to system logs could compromise the overall security posture.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Firebird version 2.0.2 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper access control implementations. The fix typically involves implementing stricter privilege validation within the Services API to ensure that only users with appropriate administrative rights can access sensitive system log files. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of existing Firebird installations to identify any systems running vulnerable versions and implement network segmentation to limit access to database servers. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to system log files should be enabled to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including those referenced in the MITRE ATT&CK framework where such information disclosure could serve as a reconnaissance step for further attacks.