CVE-2008-1707 in solidDB
Summary
by MITRE
IBM solidDB 06.00.1018 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and daemon crash) via a packet with an 0x11 value in a certain "type" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1707 affects IBM solidDB version 06.00.1018 and earlier, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers. This issue stems from improper input validation within the database daemon's packet processing mechanism, specifically when handling malformed packets containing an 0x11 value in a designated "type" field. The flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that ultimately leads to the complete daemon crash and subsequent service disruption for legitimate users. The vulnerability resides in the protocol handling layer of the solidDB database system, where incoming network packets are parsed and processed without adequate sanitization of type field values.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic remote denial of service pattern that aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereferences in software systems. When the solidDB daemon receives a packet with an 0x11 value in the type field, the parsing logic fails to properly validate this input against expected parameter ranges or values. This validation failure creates a path where the application attempts to dereference a NULL pointer, resulting in an immediate crash of the database service. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication or privileged access, making it accessible to any remote attacker with network connectivity to the vulnerable system. The daemon crash represents a complete service outage that can persist until manual intervention or system restart occurs.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on IBM solidDB for mission-critical database operations. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can initiate denial of service attacks from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or credentials to the target system. The daemon crash results in immediate unavailability of database services, potentially affecting multiple applications and business processes that depend on the database connectivity. The vulnerability's exploitation can be automated and scaled, making it particularly dangerous in environments where database availability is paramount for business operations. Network monitoring systems may detect unusual traffic patterns or service interruptions, but the attack itself is relatively simple to execute and can cause substantial operational disruption.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM security patches and updates to address this vulnerability. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable solidDB instances to untrusted networks. The implementation of intrusion detection systems and network monitoring can help detect exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual packet patterns containing the specific 0x11 type field value. Additionally, maintaining current antivirus signatures and implementing proper network access controls can provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and error handling in network services, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other database systems and network services within the organization's infrastructure.