CVE-2013-0490 in InfoSphere Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IBM InfoSphere Guardium S-TAP 8.1 for DB2 on z/OS allows local users to gain privileges via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0490 represents a significant security weakness within IBM InfoSphere Guardium S-TAP 8.1 deployment specifically targeting DB2 systems running on z/OS operating environments. This local privilege escalation vulnerability exists within the Guardium S-TAP component that is designed to monitor and protect database activities by capturing and analyzing database transactions. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the flaw may involve multiple attack surfaces or could be related to improper access controls, privilege management mechanisms, or authentication processes within the Guardium S-TAP application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a security monitoring tool that is expected to maintain elevated privileges and access to sensitive database information, creating a potential attack vector where local adversaries could exploit the system to gain unauthorized elevated access rights.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely resides in the privilege management or access control mechanisms of the Guardium S-TAP component running on z/OS systems. IBM InfoSphere Guardium S-TAP operates as a database activity monitoring solution that requires elevated system privileges to perform its monitoring functions effectively. The vulnerability may stem from improper privilege separation, inadequate input validation, or flawed privilege escalation pathways within the application's codebase. Given that z/OS systems typically enforce strict security policies and privilege hierarchies, the presence of such a local privilege escalation vulnerability indicates a fundamental flaw in how the Guardium S-TAP component manages its operational permissions. This could involve issues such as insufficient privilege checks during system calls, improper handling of system-level operations, or weaknesses in the application's ability to enforce proper access controls even when running with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially compromising the integrity of database security monitoring and the overall protection of sensitive data within z/OS environments. When local users can exploit this vulnerability, they gain the ability to perform actions that should be restricted to authorized administrators or security personnel, potentially leading to unauthorized access to protected database information, modification of monitoring configurations, or complete compromise of the database activity monitoring infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe because Guardium S-TAP systems are typically deployed in high-security environments where database monitoring is critical for compliance and threat detection purposes. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially bypass security controls, modify audit trails, or gain access to database credentials and sensitive information that the monitoring system is specifically designed to protect. This creates a dangerous situation where the security tool becomes a potential attack vector rather than a protective mechanism.
Organizations utilizing IBM InfoSphere Guardium S-TAP 8.1 on z/OS systems should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability while seeking official patches from IBM. The recommended approach includes applying the latest security patches and updates provided by IBM to address the specific privilege escalation flaw. Additionally, system administrators should implement additional access controls and monitoring of the Guardium S-TAP processes to detect unauthorized access attempts or privilege escalation activities. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access restrictions to limit local access to systems running the vulnerable Guardium S-TAP components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Privilege Issues and may map to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers could use this weakness to establish persistent access and evade detection mechanisms that depend on the integrity of the monitoring system. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any additional weaknesses in the database security infrastructure that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability.