CVE-2012-1797 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 9.5 uses world-writable permissions for nodes.reg, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1797 affects IBM DB2 version 9.5 and involves a critical permission misconfiguration in the database management system's file structure. The issue specifically relates to the nodes.reg file which is used by DB2 for node configuration and communication management within distributed database environments. This file contains essential information about database nodes and their network configurations that are critical for proper system operation and security.
The technical flaw stems from the improper file permissions assigned to nodes.reg, which are set to world-writable mode. This means that any user account on the system can modify or overwrite this critical configuration file without proper authentication or authorization. The nodes.reg file typically contains node names, network addresses, and other configuration parameters that control how DB2 instances communicate with each other across a network. When this file is world-writable, it creates a significant attack surface that allows unauthorized users to manipulate database node configurations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can lead to severe consequences including unauthorized access to database resources, data manipulation, and potential system compromise. An attacker with access to the system can modify the nodes.reg file to redirect database communications to malicious nodes, inject false configuration data, or disable legitimate database connectivity. The unspecified attack vectors indicate that the vulnerability can be exploited through multiple methods including local privilege escalation, network-based attacks, or even social engineering approaches where an attacker gains access to a low-privilege account and leverages the world-writable permissions to escalate their privileges.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which specifically addresses cases where critical system resources are assigned incorrect permissions that allow unauthorized access or modification. This weakness is particularly dangerous in database environments where configuration integrity is paramount for maintaining data security and system availability. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as attackers can leverage the compromised permissions to maintain persistent access and avoid detection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate permission correction for the nodes.reg file and related configuration files, implementing proper access controls, and establishing regular security audits to verify file permissions. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege policies, conduct regular vulnerability assessments, and ensure proper monitoring of file system changes to detect unauthorized modifications. The recommended approach includes setting appropriate file permissions that restrict write access to authorized administrative accounts only, implementing file integrity monitoring solutions, and ensuring that database security patches are applied regularly to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for suspicious activities related to database configuration file modifications.