CVE-2010-3195 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IBM DB2 9.1 before FP9, 9.5 before FP6, and 9.7 before FP2 on Windows Server 2008 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (trap) via vectors involving "special group and user enumeration."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3195 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting IBM DB2 database systems across multiple versions including 9.1 before fix pack 9, 9.5 before fix pack 6, and 9.7 before fix pack 2 on Windows Server 2008 platforms. This issue stems from improper handling of specific group and user enumeration operations within the database server's authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes certain special group and user enumeration requests that trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying database engine, ultimately leading to system instability and potential service disruption.
The technical flaw resides in the database server's insufficient validation and processing of user and group enumeration requests during authentication operations. When attackers submit specially crafted enumeration queries or requests that involve specific group memberships or user account information, the DB2 server enters an unstable state where it cannot properly handle the request and subsequently traps or crashes. This behavior aligns with CWE-400 vulnerability classification related to resource exhaustion and improper error handling. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Windows Server 2008 environment where the database server operates, making it particularly concerning for enterprise deployments that rely on this platform combination.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise database availability and integrity within affected environments. Attackers can exploit this weakness to systematically disrupt database services by repeatedly submitting the problematic enumeration requests, leading to sustained denial of service conditions that can affect business operations and data accessibility. The trap condition that occurs represents a serious stability issue where the database server process terminates unexpectedly, requiring manual intervention and system restarts to restore normal operations. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations running IBM DB2 in production environments where continuous availability is critical for business continuity.
Organizations affected by CVE-2010-3195 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the appropriate IBM fix packs and security updates for their specific DB2 versions. The recommended approach involves upgrading to IBM DB2 9.1 FP9, 9.5 FP6, or 9.7 FP2 releases which contain patches addressing the enumeration handling flaw. Network-level mitigations such as implementing access controls and limiting database user privileges can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual enumeration patterns or repeated authentication attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and following IBM's security advisory practices, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and respond to suspicious enumeration activities that could lead to service disruption.