CVE-2018-1515 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes DB2 Connect Server) 10.5 and 11.1, under specific or unusual conditions, could allow a local user to overflow a buffer which may result in a privilege scalation to the DB2 instance owner. IBM X-Force ID: 141624.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
This vulnerability affects IBM DB2 database systems running on Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms including the DB2 Connect Server component. The issue manifests as a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by local users under specific or unusual circumstances. The vulnerability specifically impacts DB2 versions 10.5 and 11.1, representing a significant security concern for organizations relying on these database implementations. The buffer overflow occurs within the database server's processing logic, creating a potential attack vector that could be leveraged to escalate privileges to the DB2 instance owner level, which typically represents elevated system access rights.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the DB2 server components. When processing certain inputs or commands, the system fails to properly bounds-check buffer allocations, allowing malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local system access, making it a local privilege escalation issue rather than a remote attack vector, but the potential impact remains severe as it can elevate privileges to the database instance owner account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated access to database resources, potentially leading to data theft, modification, or deletion. The DB2 instance owner typically has extensive permissions over database operations, including access to sensitive data, database schema modifications, and administrative functions. Organizations using affected DB2 versions may face significant security risks if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in environments where database administrators have elevated system privileges. The specific conditions under which the vulnerability manifests suggest that it may be triggered by particular input sequences or processing scenarios, potentially making it more difficult to detect and exploit systematically.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the official IBM security patches and updates released for affected DB2 versions. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of the vendor-provided fixes. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit local system access to database servers, reducing the attack surface for local privilege escalation attempts. System hardening measures including disabling unnecessary database features, implementing proper user access controls, and monitoring for suspicious system activities should also be considered. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic, making it important for security teams to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in database environments.