CVE-2007-6053 in DB2 Universal Database
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 UDB 9.1 before Fixpak 4 does not properly handle use of large numbers of file descriptors, which might allow attackers to have an unknown impact involving "memory corruption." 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-2007-6053 affects IBM DB2 Universal Database version 9.1 prior to Fixpak 4, representing a critical resource management flaw that could potentially lead to system instability and memory corruption. This issue stems from the database management system's inadequate handling of file descriptor usage when processing large volumes of concurrent connections or operations. The vulnerability manifests when the system encounters scenarios where numerous file descriptors are simultaneously active, creating conditions that may result in memory corruption and system-wide instability. The lack of proper resource limiting and management mechanisms in the affected versions allows for potential exhaustion of system resources that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw resides in the database engine's file descriptor management subsystem, which fails to properly validate or limit the number of concurrent file descriptors that can be opened and maintained during database operations. This deficiency creates a condition where an attacker could potentially exhaust system resources through controlled manipulation of file descriptor usage patterns. The vulnerability operates at the operating system level where file descriptors are managed, but manifests within the database application layer, creating a complex interaction between system resources and database processing. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-770, which addresses allocation of resources without proper limits or overflow checks, and CWE-122, which deals with heap-based buffer overflow conditions that can occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on resource allocations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as memory corruption could potentially lead to database service disruption, data integrity issues, or even system crashes that would require manual intervention and restart procedures. Attackers could exploit this condition to cause denial of service against database services, potentially affecting business operations and data availability. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the vulnerability could theoretically be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks where corrupted memory regions might be manipulated to execute unintended code or bypass security controls. This vulnerability particularly affects environments with high concurrent connection loads or applications that perform extensive file I/O operations through the database interface. The ambiguity in the vendor's description regarding the security implications indicates that the full scope of potential exploitation methods was not initially clear, which is common with resource exhaustion vulnerabilities that may have both accidental and intentional exploitation vectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the available Fixpak 4 update from IBM to address the resource management deficiencies in the database engine. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and resource limiting controls to detect and prevent abnormal file descriptor usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should include establishing proper file descriptor limits through operating system configuration and implementing database connection pooling mechanisms that prevent excessive resource allocation. Regular system auditing and resource usage monitoring should be implemented to identify potential exploitation attempts before they can cause significant impact. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing proper resource management practices as outlined in various security frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK matrix under resource exhaustion and system resource compromise techniques. The issue also highlights the need for comprehensive vulnerability assessment procedures that can identify and categorize potentially security-relevant resource management flaws within database systems.