CVE-2007-6048 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 UDB 9.1 before Fixpak 4 uses incorrect permissions on ACLs for DB2NODES.CFG, which has unknown impact and attack vectors. NOTE: the vendor description of this issue is too vague to be certain that it is security-related.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6048 affects IBM DB2 Universal Database version 9.1 before Fixpak 4, specifically concerning the access control list permissions for the DB2NODES.CFG configuration file. This file serves as a critical component in DB2 database clustering and node configuration management, establishing communication parameters between database nodes in a distributed environment. The issue stems from improper permission settings that allow unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of database cluster communications. The ambiguity in the vendor's description regarding the specific security implications and attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals attempting to assess risk levels and implement appropriate mitigations.
The technical flaw manifests in the inadequate access control mechanisms applied to the DB2NODES.CFG file, which typically contains crucial information about database node addresses, communication ports, and cluster membership details. When ACL permissions are incorrectly configured, this configuration file may be accessible to users or processes that should not have read access to such sensitive information. The vulnerability represents a deviation from standard security practices where configuration files containing network topology and connectivity information should be restricted to authorized administrative users and system processes only. This misconfiguration creates potential attack surfaces where malicious actors could exploit the information disclosure to map database cluster architectures and plan targeted attacks against database infrastructure components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to gain insights into database network topology and node relationships within the DB2 cluster environment. While the exact attack vectors remain unspecified due to the vendor's vague description, the potential consequences include unauthorized access to database cluster information, which could facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as man-in-the-middle operations or targeted denial-of-service attacks against specific database nodes. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to improper access control and information exposure highlights its fundamental security implications. Organizations running DB2 9.1 without Fixpak 4 may unknowingly expose their database infrastructure to reconnaissance activities that could lead to more serious compromise scenarios.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader database security frameworks and attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly within the reconnaissance and credential access phases where attackers gather information about target systems. The lack of specific details regarding impact and attack vectors in the vendor description makes it difficult to perform comprehensive risk assessments, but the nature of configuration file permissions suggests potential exploitation through privilege escalation or information gathering techniques. Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures by applying Fixpak 4 or equivalent security patches that address the ACL configuration issues. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of database configuration files and access permissions to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other critical system components. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper access control implementation and the need for regular security assessments of database configurations to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive infrastructure information.