CVE-2007-6045 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in (1) DB2WATCH and (2) DB2FREEZE in IBM DB2 UDB 9.1 before Fixpak 4 has unknown impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6045 affects IBM DB2 Universal Database version 9.1 prior to Fixpak 4, specifically impacting two critical administrative utilities: DB2WATCH and DB2FREEZE. These tools are essential for database monitoring and resource management operations within the DB2 ecosystem. The unspecified nature of this vulnerability means that the exact technical flaw remains undetermined, though its classification as a security issue within core database management utilities suggests a potential avenue for unauthorized access or system compromise. This vulnerability represents a significant concern for organizations relying on DB2 9.1 for their database operations, as these utilities are frequently used in production environments for monitoring database activity and managing system resources.
The technical implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple administrative tooling, as DB2WATCH and DB2FREEZE are integral components that provide real-time monitoring capabilities and resource management functions. These utilities typically operate with elevated privileges and have direct access to database processes and system resources. When a vulnerability exists within such critical infrastructure tools, it creates potential attack surfaces that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to database systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or denial of service conditions. The lack of specific details about the vulnerability's nature makes it particularly concerning for security teams attempting to assess risk and implement appropriate mitigations.
From an operational standpoint, organizations running IBM DB2 9.1 without Fixpak 4 face substantial risk exposure due to this unspecified vulnerability. The database administration utilities are typically accessible to system administrators and database operators who require elevated privileges to perform their duties. If an attacker can exploit this vulnerability, they could potentially manipulate database monitoring and resource management functions to gain deeper system access or disrupt normal database operations. This vulnerability could enable privilege escalation attacks or provide attackers with information about database configurations and system states that would normally be protected. The impact could range from information disclosure to complete system compromise, depending on the specific nature of the underlying flaw.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by applying IBM Fixpak 4 or later versions that contain the necessary security patches. The recommended approach involves comprehensive testing of the fix in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing database configurations and applications. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts or unauthorized access to database systems. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls around database servers can help reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses insecure default configurations, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion when exploited by adversaries. Regular security monitoring and patch management procedures should be strengthened to prevent similar issues from affecting database systems in the future, particularly given that this vulnerability affects core database administrative utilities that are fundamental to database operations and security.