CVE-2012-0200 in solidDB
Summary
by MITRE
The server in IBM solidDB 6.5 before Interim Fix 6 does not properly initialize data structures, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a SELECT statement with a redundant WHERE condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0200 affects IBM solidDB 6.5 before Interim Fix 6, representing a critical flaw in the database server's handling of data structures during query processing. This issue stems from improper initialization of internal data structures within the database engine, creating a condition where maliciously crafted SELECT statements can trigger unexpected behavior. The vulnerability specifically manifests when authenticated users submit SELECT queries containing redundant WHERE conditions, which should theoretically have no impact on query execution but instead cause the database daemon to crash.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient initialization of memory structures used by the database server to process query operations. When a SELECT statement with a redundant WHERE clause is executed, the server fails to properly validate or handle the malformed query structure, leading to memory corruption or access violations that ultimately result in daemon termination. This flaw operates at the server-level processing engine rather than at the application interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who already possess valid authentication credentials. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-457, which addresses use of uninitialized variables, and more specifically aligns with CWE-125, involving out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to system instability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for database availability and system stability. Remote authenticated users can leverage this flaw to perform denial of service attacks against the database server, potentially disrupting business operations and data access for legitimate users. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with valid database credentials can exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for environments where user access is not strictly controlled. The daemon crash resulting from exploitation can lead to extended downtime, data loss potential during crash recovery, and service disruption that may affect multiple applications depending on the database server's role in the enterprise infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the available Interim Fix 6 from IBM to address the uninitialized data structure issue. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and access controls to detect unusual query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1499, which covers network denial of service, and T1078, covering valid accounts for maintaining access. Regular security assessments should include verification of database server configurations and patch management processes to prevent similar issues from occurring in other database components. The incident underscores the importance of proper initialization practices in server-side code and highlights the critical need for comprehensive testing of query processing engines to identify potential memory management flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.