CVE-2014-8901 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 9.5 through FP10, 9.7 through FP10, 9.8 through FP5, 10.1 through FP4, and 10.5 before FP5 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a crafted XML query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
IBM DB2 database systems across multiple versions contain a critical vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute denial of service attacks through excessive cpu consumption. This vulnerability specifically affects IBM DB2 versions 9.5 through FP10, 9.7 through FP10, 9.8 through FP5, 10.1 through FP4, and 10.5 before FP5. The flaw manifests when the database engine processes specially crafted xml queries that trigger inefficient parsing and processing algorithms, causing the system to consume excessive cpu resources and potentially leading to system unresponsiveness or complete service disruption.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the xml query parser within IBM DB2's query execution engine. When a maliciously constructed xml query is submitted by an authenticated user, the parser enters into a computationally expensive processing loop that consumes disproportionate cpu cycles relative to the query complexity. This behavior stems from inadequate input validation and optimization within the xml processing routines, creating a resource exhaustion scenario where legitimate database operations become starved of processing power. The vulnerability represents a classic example of a resource exhaustion attack that leverages legitimate database functionality to amplify its impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise overall system stability and availability. Organizations relying on IBM DB2 for critical business operations face significant risk as attackers can consume system resources without requiring privileged access, only authentication credentials. This makes the attack surface particularly concerning for environments where database access is widely distributed among legitimate users. The cpu consumption can escalate rapidly, potentially affecting not just the targeted database instance but also impacting other services running on the same system due to resource contention. Systems may experience cascading failures as the excessive cpu usage affects memory management, disk I/O operations, and network processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing immediate patches from IBM that address the xml processing vulnerabilities within the affected database versions. Organizations must also consider implementing rate limiting and resource monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent abnormal cpu consumption patterns. Database administrators should review and restrict xml query capabilities where possible, particularly in environments where untrusted users have access to database systems. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the scope of potential attacks by restricting which authenticated users can submit xml queries to database instances. Additionally, implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions that track cpu utilization patterns and query execution times can provide early detection of potential exploitation attempts, aligning with defensive strategies outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework under the resource exhaustion and denial of service tactics. The vulnerability maps to CWE-400 which specifically addresses uncontrolled resource consumption, and represents a significant concern for database security posture management.