CVE-2017-1439 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows 9.7, 10,1, 10.5, and 11.1 (includes DB2 Connect Server) could allow a local user with DB2 instance owner privileges to obtain root access. IBM X-Force ID: 128058.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
This vulnerability resides in IBM DB2 database management systems across multiple versions including 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1, affecting Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms. The flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows a local attacker who already possesses DB2 instance owner privileges to escalate their access to root level system privileges. This represents a critical security weakness in database server implementations where administrative privileges can be leveraged to gain complete system control. The vulnerability specifically impacts DB2 Connect Server installations, which are commonly used for database connectivity and integration purposes.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper privilege handling within the DB2 instance owner context. When a local user operates with DB2 instance owner privileges, the system fails to properly validate or restrict the escalation paths that could lead to root access. This flaw typically stems from inadequate access control mechanisms or improper privilege separation within the database server's security model. The vulnerability enables an attacker to bypass normal security boundaries that should prevent a database owner from gaining system-level administrative privileges, effectively undermining the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using affected IBM DB2 versions. A successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to access all system resources, modify critical database contents, steal sensitive information, or deploy additional malicious software. The vulnerability affects database administrators who may inadvertently grant DB2 instance owner privileges to untrusted users, or attackers who have already gained initial access to the database environment. Organizations relying on DB2 Connect Server for enterprise database connectivity face particular risk as this vulnerability could be exploited from within the database environment to gain complete system control.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with IBM's security updates and hotfixes specifically addressing this privilege escalation vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict access control policies ensuring that DB2 instance owner privileges are granted only to trusted administrators and that regular privilege reviews are conducted. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activities that might indicate privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, privilege separation mechanisms, and regular security auditing to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the database environment.