CVE-2017-1434 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows 11.1 (includes DB2 Connect Server) under unusual circumstances, could expose highly sensitive information in the error log to a local user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
IBM DB2 database management system version 11.1 presents a sensitive information exposure vulnerability that manifests under specific operational conditions. This weakness allows local users to gain access to highly confidential data that should remain restricted within error log files. The vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the database error logging mechanism, where sensitive information is written to log files without adequate authorization checks. The flaw exists in the DB2 Connect Server component and affects all supported operating systems including Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the database server's error handling routines that fail to properly sanitize log entries containing sensitive data. When error conditions occur during database operations, the system generates detailed error messages that include database connection parameters, user credentials, or other confidential information. These log entries are written to files with insufficient permission controls, allowing local users to read the contents of these log files. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates under "unusual circumstances" suggesting that specific conditions must be met for the information exposure to occur, but once triggered, the exposure persists until manual intervention occurs.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations using IBM DB2 11.1. Local users who can access the system can potentially extract sensitive information including database connection strings, authentication tokens, and other privileged data that could be leveraged for further attacks. The exposure of such information could lead to unauthorized database access, data breaches, and privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes the improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a critical weakness in the system's information protection mechanisms. The attack surface is limited to local users but the potential impact is severe as it could provide attackers with the necessary credentials and connection details to compromise database security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper file permission controls on error log directories and files. System administrators must ensure that log files are created with restrictive access permissions, preventing unauthorized local users from reading sensitive information. Additionally, organizations should implement regular log file monitoring and access auditing to detect unauthorized attempts to read sensitive data. The recommended approach involves configuring the database server to minimize the amount of sensitive information written to error logs, implementing log rotation with proper access controls, and establishing regular security reviews of log file contents. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege and following security best practices outlined in the ATT&CK framework for credential access and defense evasion techniques. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper information sanitization in error handling routines and demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing of database management systems.