CVE-2008-1880 in Firebird
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of Firebird before 2.0.3.12981.0-r6 on Gentoo Linux sets the ISC_PASSWORD environment variable before starting Firebird, which allows remote attackers to bypass SYSDBA authentication and obtain sensitive database information via an empty password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-1880 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the Firebird database management system, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.0.3.12981.0-r6 on Gentoo Linux distributions. This issue stems from the default configuration practices that inadvertently expose the system to unauthorized access by setting the ISC_PASSWORD environment variable during the service startup process. The flaw creates a dangerous condition where remote attackers can exploit the empty password field to gain administrative access to the database system, thereby compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of authentication credentials within the Firebird service initialization process. When the ISC_PASSWORD environment variable is set before Firebird starts, it creates a scenario where the system accepts empty password attempts as valid authentication mechanisms. This design flaw directly violates security best practices and creates a path for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms, aligning with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass the normal authentication process by leveraging the environment variable to supply an empty password, effectively granting them SYSDBA privileges without proper credential validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the database system. Once authenticated, malicious actors can access, modify, or delete sensitive database information, potentially leading to data breaches, information disclosure, and system compromise. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of database resources, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Firebird for critical data storage. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can perform unauthorized database operations, extract confidential information, and potentially use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the root cause through proper configuration management and security hardening practices. Organizations should upgrade to Firebird version 2.0.3.12981.0-r6 or later, which includes fixes for the environment variable handling issue. System administrators must review and correct the default configuration files to ensure that the ISC_PASSWORD environment variable is not set with empty values during service startup. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, network segmentation, and monitoring mechanisms can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those recommended by the ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the privilege escalation and credential access tactics that attackers would employ to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to prevent similar configuration issues from arising in other database systems and applications.