CVE-2007-6046 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in unspecified setuid programs in IBM DB2 UDB 9.1 before Fixpak 4 allows local users to have an unknown impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6046 represents a critical security flaw within IBM DB2 Universal Database version 9.1 prior to Fixpak 4. This issue resides in unspecified setuid programs that are part of the database management system's core functionality. Setuid programs are particularly dangerous because they execute with elevated privileges, typically those of the program's owner rather than the user who invokes it. In the context of database systems, this creates a significant attack surface where local adversaries could potentially exploit these privileged execution paths to gain unauthorized access or manipulate system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of privileges within the setuid executables that form part of IBM DB2's administrative and operational tools. These programs are designed to run with elevated permissions to perform system-level tasks such as database configuration, maintenance operations, and administrative functions. When vulnerabilities exist in these privileged components, they create opportunities for privilege escalation attacks where local users can leverage the elevated permissions to execute arbitrary code or access restricted system resources. The unspecified nature of both the vulnerability details and affected programs makes this particularly concerning for security professionals attempting to assess risk and implement appropriate controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM DB2 9.1 before Fixpak 4. Local users who can successfully exploit this weakness could potentially gain administrative privileges within the database environment, leading to data compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or complete system control. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it could enable attackers to manipulate database configurations, corrupt data, or establish persistent access points within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in setuid programs means that any local account on the system could potentially exploit this weakness, regardless of their initial access level, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
The security implications of CVE-2007-6046 align with common attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of setuid binaries as entry points for gaining elevated system access. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader security assessments focusing on privilege management and access control mechanisms. The weakness also corresponds to CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and CWE-782, which covers exposed vulnerable service. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue means that it requires immediate attention through proper patch management procedures, as the affected systems would be vulnerable to exploitation by any user with local access. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of IBM's Fixpak 4 and subsequent security updates to remediate this vulnerability effectively.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability fundamentally requires the immediate application of IBM Fixpak 4 or later versions that contain the necessary security patches. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running IBM DB2 9.1 before Fixpak 4 and prioritize patch deployment accordingly. Additionally, organizations should review their database access controls and privilege management policies to minimize the attack surface, implementing principle of least privilege where possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all database systems, particularly those with elevated privilege requirements. This incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of monitoring vendor security advisories and maintaining proactive security measures to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in enterprise database systems.