CVE-2012-3334 in Informix Dynamic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) 11.50 before 11.50.xC9W2 and 11.70 before 11.70.xC5 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via crafted arguments in a SET COLLATION statement.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3334 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in IBM Informix Dynamic Server versions 11.50 prior to 11.50.xC9W2 and 11.70 prior to 11.70.xC5. This flaw exists within the database management system's handling of the SET COLLATION statement, which is used to define character set collation rules for database operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes crafted arguments within this statement, creating a condition where malicious input can overwrite adjacent memory on the stack. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite stack memory regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who can establish a connection to the IDS database server and execute administrative commands. When a malicious user submits specially crafted arguments to the SET COLLATION statement, the system fails to properly validate the input length against the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the database process. The stack overflow occurs because the implementation does not enforce proper bounds checking on user-supplied data, allowing the attacker to overwrite return addresses and control execution flow. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise entire database environments and underlying systems. Since IDS typically runs with elevated privileges and may have access to sensitive corporate data, successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM Informix versions that have not been patched, creating a significant risk for database administrators who may not have immediate visibility into all system components. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to database servers, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or lateral movement within network environments where database systems reside.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for IBM Informix Dynamic Server versions affected by this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to database servers and enforce strict authentication controls. Monitoring for suspicious database activity, particularly around SET COLLATION statements, should be implemented as part of security operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in database management systems, reinforcing the need for secure coding practices in enterprise software development. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other database components and applications that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions.