CVE-2015-1922 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
The Data Movement implementation in 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 bypass intended access restrictions and delete table rows via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1922 represents a critical access control flaw within IBM DB2 database management systems affecting multiple versions including 9.7 through FP10, 9.8 through FP5, 10.1 before FP5, and 10.5 through FP5 across Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms. This issue resides within the Data Movement implementation component of the database system, which handles data transfer operations between different database objects and systems. The vulnerability allows remote authenticated attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and perform unauthorized deletion of table rows, fundamentally compromising data integrity and availability. The flaw specifically impacts the authorization mechanisms that should prevent users from deleting data they do not have proper permissions to modify, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on DB2 for their data storage and management needs.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of access permissions within the Data Movement functionality, which operates as a subsystem responsible for data transfer operations including bulk inserts, updates, and deletions. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage their authenticated access to manipulate data movement operations in ways that circumvent standard database security controls. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may be triggered through multiple attack pathways within the data movement processes, potentially including specific SQL commands, stored procedures, or data transfer protocols that interact with the underlying authorization checking mechanisms. This weakness falls under the broader category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where insufficient checks allow unauthorized actions to be performed on protected resources. The vulnerability represents a privilege escalation issue where authenticated users can perform actions beyond their intended permissions, directly violating the principle of least privilege that forms the foundation of database security models.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1922 extends beyond simple data loss to encompass complete compromise of database integrity and potential business disruption. Organizations utilizing affected DB2 versions face the risk of unauthorized data deletion that could result in significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the database system or local network presence, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in cloud environments or distributed database architectures. Database administrators may be unaware of unauthorized deletions occurring in their systems, as the actions bypass normal audit trails and logging mechanisms that should detect such unauthorized modifications. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising both confidentiality and integrity aspects of database security, as unauthorized deletions can expose sensitive information through data loss and undermine the trustworthiness of database contents. The attack vector aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Privilege Escalation and Defense Evasion tactics, where adversaries exploit system weaknesses to gain elevated access and avoid detection.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-1922 should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches and fixes for their specific DB2 versions to remediate the vulnerability. System administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their database environments to identify any unauthorized access patterns or suspicious activities that may have occurred during the vulnerability window. Network segmentation and enhanced monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent similar attacks targeting database systems, particularly focusing on data movement operations and bulk data modification activities. Database access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure proper principle of least privilege implementation, with additional logging and audit capabilities enabled to track data modification operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust database security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous data movement patterns and unauthorized deletions. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring tools that can provide real-time alerts for suspicious operations and maintain detailed audit trails that can be used for forensic analysis in case of security incidents. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for continuous security assessment and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies that protect database systems from both external and internal threats.