CVE-2008-2154 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 8 before FP17, 9.1 before FP5, and 9.5 before FP2 provides an INSTALL_JAR (aka sqlj.install_jar) procedure, which allows remote authenticated users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via unspecified calls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2154 affects IBM DB2 database management systems across multiple versions including DB2 8 before fix pack 17, DB2 9.1 before fix pack 5, and DB2 9.5 before fix pack 2. This security flaw resides in the INSTALL_JAR procedure, also known as sqlj.install_jar, which represents a critical file system manipulation capability within the database environment. The vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to exploit file system operations through unspecified calls to this procedure, creating a significant attack surface that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the sqlj.install_jar procedure implementation. This procedure was designed to facilitate Java application deployment within the database environment, but the implementation failed to properly sanitize user inputs or enforce proper authorization checks. When authenticated users make calls to this procedure, the system does not adequately verify the destination paths or file names being specified, allowing attackers to manipulate the file creation or overwrite operations to target arbitrary locations within the file system. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability combined with inadequate privilege separation, where database privileges are improperly translated into operating system file system permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to potentially overwrite critical system files, install malicious code, or disrupt database operations. An attacker who has authenticated access to the database can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify database configuration files, or even replace system binaries if the database process runs with elevated permissions. The remote nature of the attack means that authenticated users who can establish database connections can exploit this vulnerability from external networks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database systems are often exposed to untrusted networks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 Path Traversal, and represents a privilege escalation vector that could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for database command execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of IBM's official fix packs, specifically DB2 8 FP17, DB2 9.1 FP5, and DB2 9.5 FP2, which contain the necessary code modifications to address the input validation issues. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit database access to trusted sources, enforce strict authentication controls, and monitor database access logs for suspicious file system operations. Additional defensive measures include restricting database user privileges to the minimum required for operations, implementing database firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of database configurations. System administrators should also consider disabling the sqlj.install_jar procedure entirely if Java application deployment is not required, as this would eliminate the attack vector entirely. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and privilege separation in database systems, and serves as a reminder that database management systems must be treated as critical infrastructure components requiring regular security updates and monitoring.