CVE-2010-3475 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 9.7 before FP3 does not properly enforce privilege requirements for execution of entries in the dynamic SQL cache, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions by leveraging the cache to execute an UPDATE statement contained in a compiled compound SQL statement.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
IBM DB2 version 9.7 prior to fix pack 3 contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that stems from inadequate enforcement of access controls within the dynamic SQL cache mechanism. This vulnerability affects the database management system's ability to properly validate user permissions when executing cached SQL statements, creating a path for authenticated attackers to bypass intended security restrictions. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes compiled compound SQL statements that contain UPDATE operations, allowing malicious users to leverage cached entries to execute unauthorized database modifications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the privilege validation logic that governs dynamic SQL execution within DB2's cache subsystem. When compound SQL statements are compiled and cached, the system fails to consistently verify that the executing user possesses the necessary permissions for each individual operation within the statement. This creates a scenario where a user with limited privileges can execute an UPDATE operation through a cached statement that was originally compiled by a user with higher privileges. The vulnerability exploits the assumption that cached SQL entries maintain their original authorization context, which is not properly enforced in the affected versions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables authenticated attackers to perform unauthorized data modifications across the database system. Remote authenticated users can exploit this weakness to modify data that they would normally not have access to, potentially leading to data integrity violations, unauthorized data manipulation, and privilege escalation within the database environment. The attack requires only authentication to the database system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access but should not possess elevated privileges. This vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to database security architectures.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a specific implementation flaw in privilege enforcement mechanisms. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics, as it allows attackers to bypass access controls without detection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying IBM fix pack 3 for DB2 9.7, reviewing and tightening database access controls, monitoring for unauthorized SQL execution patterns, and implementing additional logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper privilege validation in cached execution environments and demonstrates the need for comprehensive security testing of database management systems.