CVE-2017-1677 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ (IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1) deserializes the contents of /tmp/connlicj.bin which leads to object injection and potentially arbitrary code execution depending on the classpath. IBM X-Force ID: 133999.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1677 resides within IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ components across multiple versions of IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms. This issue represents a critical deserialization flaw that fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the driver attempts to deserialize data from a file located at /tmp/connlicj.bin, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on target systems.
This vulnerability constitutes a classic object deserialization attack vector where the application processes untrusted data without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw occurs during the deserialization process when the driver reads and interprets the contents of /tmp/connlicj.bin file, which can be manipulated by attackers to inject malicious objects. The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes the weakness of deserializing untrusted data, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the database process. The attack scenario becomes more severe when considering that the impact depends heavily on the classpath configuration, meaning that if attacker-controlled classes are present in the classpath, the potential for remote code execution increases dramatically.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to database systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, modification of sensitive information, or complete system takeover. The fact that the vulnerable file is located in the /tmp directory, which is typically world-readable, further amplifies the risk as attackers can potentially manipulate the file contents before the deserialization occurs. This vulnerability affects multiple major versions of IBM DB2, including 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1, indicating a widespread exposure across the product lifecycle. The potential for exploitation through network-based attacks makes this particularly concerning for enterprise environments where database systems are often exposed to external networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1677 must address both immediate operational concerns and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should immediately apply the relevant IBM security patches and updates that address this deserialization vulnerability, as IBM has provided specific fixes for this issue. System administrators should also implement file system permissions controls to restrict access to the /tmp/connlicj.bin file, ensuring that only authorized processes can read or write to it. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by removing unnecessary classes from the classpath and implementing strict class loading policies. From an operational perspective, network segmentation should be employed to limit access to database systems, and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious file access patterns or unauthorized modifications to critical system files. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized code and conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their database environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and script interpreter and T1106 for execution of malicious code, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures alongside traditional network-based defenses.