CVE-2016-0361 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM General Parallel File System (GPFS) 3.5 before 3.5.0.29 efix 6 and 4.1.1 before 4.1.1.4 efix 9, when the Spectrum Scale GUI is used with DB2 on Linux, UNIX and Windows, allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors, as demonstrated by discovering ADMIN passwords.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0361 affects IBM General Parallel File System (GPFS) versions 3.5 before 3.5.0.29 efix 6 and 4.1.1 before 4.1.1.4 efix 9 when integrated with the Spectrum Scale GUI and DB2 database across Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms. This security flaw represents a significant information disclosure weakness that impacts the confidentiality of sensitive administrative credentials within enterprise storage environments. The vulnerability specifically enables remote authenticated attackers to extract sensitive information through unspecified attack vectors that ultimately allow the discovery of ADMIN passwords, potentially compromising the entire storage infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and information disclosure mechanisms within the GPFS GUI component when interfacing with DB2 database systems. The flaw exists in how the system handles authentication and authorization processes, particularly when administrative credentials are stored or transmitted within the database context. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can exploit the misconfigured access controls to retrieve administrative passwords that are critical for system management and security. This represents a classic case of insufficient privilege enforcement and improper handling of sensitive data within enterprise storage management interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0361 extends beyond simple credential theft, as administrative passwords provide attackers with elevated privileges to manipulate storage configurations, access protected data, and potentially compromise the entire GPFS cluster. The remote nature of the attack means that authenticated users with legitimate access to the GUI can exploit this weakness without requiring physical presence or additional authentication factors. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Spectrum Scale for enterprise storage management, where the compromise of administrative credentials could lead to data breaches, system manipulation, and unauthorized access to critical storage resources. The attack vector demonstrates a failure in proper security controls that should prevent unauthorized information disclosure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately apply the recommended patches and efixes to their GPFS installations, specifically targeting version 3.5.0.29 efix 6 and 4.1.1.4 efix 9 releases. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their GPFS configurations to identify any potential exposure and implement additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's credential access tactics, specifically targeting the T1078 technique for valid accounts and T1552 for credentials in files. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the Spectrum Scale GUI to authorized personnel only, while maintaining detailed logging of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.