CVE-2008-1998 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
The NNSTAT (aka SYSPROC.NNSTAT) procedure in IBM DB2 8 before FP16, 9.1 before FP4a, and 9.5 before FP1 on Windows allows remote authenticated users to overwrite arbitrary files via the log file parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1998 affects IBM DB2 database management systems across multiple versions including 8 before fix pack 16, 9.1 before fix pack 4a, and 9.5 before fix pack 1 on Windows platforms. This issue resides within the NNSTAT procedure, also known as SYSPROC.NNSTAT, which is part of the database's system procedures. The vulnerability represents a critical file overwrite flaw that can be exploited by remote authenticated attackers who have access to the database system. The vulnerability specifically targets the log file parameter handling within this procedure, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the file system through database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper file path handling within the NNSTAT procedure. When an authenticated user executes this procedure with specially crafted parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize the log file path parameter, leading to arbitrary file overwrite capabilities. This flaw falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, and more specifically relates to CWE-22 which addresses path traversal vulnerabilities. The vulnerability allows attackers to specify any file path that the database service account has write permissions to, potentially enabling them to overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or even executable components that could lead to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote authenticated attackers who can access the database system can leverage this flaw to compromise the integrity of the database environment and potentially the underlying operating system. The ability to overwrite arbitrary files means that attackers could modify critical database configuration files, log files, or even system executables that the database service might reference. This creates potential for persistent access, privilege escalation, and system compromise. The vulnerability particularly affects Windows environments where the database service typically runs with elevated privileges, making the attack surface even more dangerous. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1490 (Inhibit System Recovery) as attackers can use the file overwrite capabilities to disable system recovery mechanisms or establish persistence through modified system files.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM fix packs and hotfixes that address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves upgrading to IBM DB2 versions that include the security patches for this flaw, specifically targeting fix packs 16 for version 8, 4a for version 9.1, and 1 for version 9.5. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the number of authenticated users who can execute system procedures. Database administrators should also review and restrict permissions for the SYSPROC schema, ensuring that only authorized personnel can execute procedures that handle file operations. Additionally, monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file modification patterns and unauthorized access attempts to database system procedures. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in database system procedures and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in parameter handling can lead to significant security implications. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their database environments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system procedures and ensure comprehensive protection against privilege escalation and file system manipulation attacks.