CVE-2015-1883 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 9.7 through FP10, 9.8 through FP5, 10.1 before FP5, and 10.5 through FP5 on Linux, UNIX, and Windows allows remote authenticated users to read certain administrative files via crafted use of an automated-maintenance policy stored procedure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2022
IBM DB2 database systems across multiple versions suffer from a privilege escalation vulnerability that stems from improper access controls within automated maintenance policy stored procedures. This vulnerability affects IBM DB2 versions 9.7 through fix pack 10, 9.8 through fix pack 5, 10.1 before fix pack 5, and 10.5 through fix pack 5 when deployed on Linux, UNIX, and Windows operating systems. The flaw resides in how the database engine handles file access permissions during automated maintenance operations, specifically when executing stored procedures that manage maintenance policies. Attackers with authenticated access to the database can exploit this weakness to read sensitive administrative files that should normally be restricted to privileged users only. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through exploitation of database vulnerabilities. The technical implementation involves the manipulation of stored procedure parameters within the automated maintenance framework, allowing authenticated users to bypass normal file system access controls and gain unauthorized read access to critical database administrative resources. This includes access to configuration files, log files, and other sensitive data that should remain protected from routine database users. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it enables attackers to gather intelligence about database configurations, user accounts, and operational details that could facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, and the authenticated requirement reduces the attack surface compared to fully unauthenticated exploits, though it still represents a significant security risk. Organizations running affected DB2 versions should immediately apply the appropriate fix packs to address this vulnerability. The remediation process involves updating to the latest available fix packs for each affected version, which typically include enhanced access control checks within the automated maintenance procedures. Security administrators should also review database user permissions and implement the principle of least privilege to minimize potential impact should the vulnerability be exploited. Network segmentation and monitoring of database access patterns can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in database management systems, particularly within automated processes where privilege escalation opportunities may exist. This flaw represents a classic example of how seemingly routine database maintenance functions can become attack vectors when access controls are not properly enforced. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their database environments to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that automated processes do not inadvertently provide unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the applied patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing database operations while maintaining the necessary security controls to prevent unauthorized access to administrative files.