CVE-2010-0462 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in IBM DB2 9.1 before FP9, 9.5 before FP6, and 9.7 before FP2 allows remote authenticated users to have an unspecified impact via a SELECT statement that has a long column name generated with the REPEAT function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0462 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting IBM DB2 database management systems across multiple versions including 9.1 before fix pack 9, 9.5 before fix pack 6, and 9.7 before fix pack 2. This security flaw resides within the database engine's handling of SQL statements and specifically manifests when processing SELECT queries containing excessively long column names generated through the REPEAT function. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires authentication to exploit, making it a remote authenticated attack vector that could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within IBM DB2's query processing engine. When a SELECT statement contains a column name created using the REPEAT function, the database engine attempts to allocate heap memory to store the resulting string. However, the buffer allocation logic fails to properly validate the length of the generated column name against the allocated memory space, creating a condition where user-supplied data can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This heap-based overflow typically occurs in the database engine's string handling routines where the system processes and stores column metadata, potentially corrupting critical data structures or execution pointers that could be leveraged for code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with potential paths for privilege escalation and system compromise. Remote authenticated users who can submit SQL queries to the database can exploit this flaw to cause application crashes, data corruption, or potentially achieve arbitrary code execution depending on the system configuration and memory layout. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where database systems handle sensitive information and are often targets for sophisticated attacks. The unspecified nature of the impact suggests that exploitation could lead to various outcomes including complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical business operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of official IBM fix packs, specifically targeting the mentioned versions and their respective fix packs. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to IBM DB2 versions that include the patched buffer overflow handling mechanisms and implementing network segmentation to limit access to database systems. Security controls should include monitoring for unusual SQL query patterns involving the REPEAT function and implementing database activity monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow conditions and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for application layer command execution, making it relevant to both defensive security operations and incident response procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing database firewalls and query validation mechanisms to prevent exploitation through malformed SQL statements while maintaining proper access controls and authentication protocols to limit the attack surface.