CVE-2011-4435 in DB2 Tools for zOS
Summary
by MITRE
The web-server component in the Consolidation and Analysis Engine (CAE) Server in DB2 Query Monitor in IBM DB2 Tools 2.3.0 for z/OS does not prevent directory browsing, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via HTTP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4435 resides within the Consolidation and Analysis Engine CAE Server component of IBM DB2 Tools 2.3.0 for z/OS operating system. This issue manifests as a directory traversal weakness that affects the web-server functionality embedded within the database monitoring tools. The Consolidation and Analysis Engine serves as a critical component for database performance monitoring and analysis, particularly within mainframe environments where IBM DB2 systems operate. The web-server component provides HTTP-based interfaces for accessing monitoring data and configuration information, making it a potential attack surface for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to sensitive database infrastructure information.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the web-server implementation. When remote attackers submit HTTP requests to the CAE Server, the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict directory paths, allowing adversaries to navigate through the file system hierarchy beyond the intended boundaries. This directory browsing capability enables attackers to access files and directories that should remain protected, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, monitoring logs, database connection parameters, and other privileged information that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the HTTP request processing logic where path traversal sequences are not adequately filtered or normalized before file system access operations are performed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical database monitoring infrastructure details that could be used for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain insights into database configurations, network topology information, and monitoring tool internals that would otherwise remain hidden. This information could facilitate targeted attacks against the underlying database systems, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or even complete system compromise. The impact is particularly severe in z/OS environments where database monitoring tools often contain sensitive operational data and administrative credentials.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's T1083 - File and Directory Discovery technique, where adversaries seek to enumerate file systems and discover sensitive information. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to the affected web-server component through network segmentation, implementing proper input validation and sanitization of HTTP requests, and applying the vendor-provided security patches. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious directory traversal attempts and implementing web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.