CVE-2011-1208 in solidDB
Summary
by MITRE
IBM solidDB 4.5.x before 4.5.182, 6.0.x before 6.0.1069, 6.1.x and 6.3.x before 6.3 FP8 (aka 6.3.49), and 6.5.x before 6.5 FP4 (aka 6.5.0.4) does not properly handle the (1) rpc_test_svc_readwrite and (2) rpc_test_svc_done commands, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and daemon crash) via a crafted command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1208 affects IBM solidDB database software across multiple version ranges including 4.5.x before 4.5.182, 6.0.x before 6.0.1069, 6.1.x and 6.3.x before 6.3 FP8, and 6.5.x before 6.5 FP4. This issue resides in the remote procedure call (RPC) handling mechanisms of the database system, specifically within the rpc_test_svc_readwrite and rpc_test_svc_done commands that are designed for testing purposes but can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability represents a classic null pointer dereference condition that occurs when the system attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, leading to system instability and potential service disruption.
The technical flaw manifests when remote attackers send specially crafted RPC commands to the solidDB service, exploiting the improper handling of these test commands to trigger a NULL pointer dereference. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software systems. The daemon process crashes as a result of this memory access violation, causing a denial of service condition that can severely impact database availability and system reliability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple major version lines of IBM solidDB, indicating a systemic issue in the RPC processing framework that was not properly addressed across the product line.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on IBM solidDB for critical database operations. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit the vulnerability without requiring local system access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The denial of service impact can result in complete database unavailability, potentially affecting business operations, data access, and application functionality that depends on the database service. The vulnerability affects the core daemon process, which means that even if other database services remain operational, the primary database functionality becomes unavailable until the service is manually restarted or the system is rebooted.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for the affected IBM solidDB versions, as well as implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the database services to untrusted networks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, which involves the exploitation of network services to disrupt availability. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual RPC command patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and establish incident response procedures to quickly address any potential exploitation events. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling in RPC implementations, emphasizing the need for defensive programming practices that prevent null pointer dereferences through proper memory management and validation checks.