CVE-2010-2771 in solidDB
Summary
by MITRE
solid.exe in IBM solidDB before 6.5 FP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long username field in the first handshake packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2771 affects IBM solidDB database software version 6.5 FP1 and earlier, specifically targeting the solid.exe component that handles initial client-server communication. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs during the authentication handshake process when the server receives a malformed username field from an attacking client. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the database server's network protocol implementation, where the solid.exe process fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of username data received in the initial handshake packet. The attack vector requires a remote network connection to the database server and does not necessitate prior authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous for systems exposed to untrusted networks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages a buffer overflow condition that occurs when the username field exceeds the allocated memory buffer size during the initial authentication handshake. When an attacker sends a specially crafted first handshake packet containing an excessively long username string, the solid.exe process attempts to copy this data into a fixed-size buffer without proper bounds checking. This results in memory corruption that can be manipulated to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses or function pointers, thereby enabling remote code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets the protocol parsing logic within the database server's authentication module, which is designed to handle standard user identification requests but fails to account for maliciously oversized input data. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a fundamental weakness in input validation and memory management practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2771 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities within the database server environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the solid.exe process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. This vulnerability affects database availability, integrity, and confidentiality, as attackers can potentially access, modify, or delete sensitive data stored within the database. The remote nature of the attack means that systems exposed to the internet or untrusted networks are immediately at risk, with no requirement for physical access or local credentials. Organizations running vulnerable versions of IBM solidDB face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system downtime, and compliance violations, particularly in regulated environments where database security is critical. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, making it a high-priority issue for security teams to address immediately.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2771 focus on both immediate patching and temporary defensive measures to protect against exploitation. IBM released solidDB version 6.5 FP2 and later updates that address this vulnerability through proper input validation and buffer management techniques. Organizations should prioritize applying the official security patches as soon as possible, as these updates include enhanced bounds checking and memory management controls that prevent the buffer overflow condition. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, network-level defenses such as firewall rules can be implemented to restrict access to the database server's listening ports, particularly limiting connections to trusted IP addresses only. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious handshake patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, including regular security assessments, input validation testing, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level controls and access restrictions to minimize the attack surface and reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation.