CVE-2018-1978 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes DB2 Connect Server) 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1 is vulnerable to a buffer overflow, which could allow an authenticated local attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system as root. IBM X-ForceID: 154069.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1978 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within IBM DB2 database management system across multiple versions including 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms. This security weakness exists within the DB2 Connect Server component and affects systems running IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows environments. The flaw specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the database system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate privileges and gain root-level access to affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local authentication to exploit, meaning that an attacker who has legitimate user credentials can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the DB2 Connect Server functionality. When authenticated users interact with certain database operations, the system fails to properly bounds-check data inputs, allowing maliciously crafted data to overflow allocated memory buffers. This memory corruption can be manipulated to overwrite critical system memory locations, including return addresses and function pointers, which enables attackers to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The flaw's exploitation requires an authenticated local user account, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1068 for local privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and potential data breaches. An attacker with root-level access can manipulate database contents, extract sensitive information, modify system configurations, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The affected IBM DB2 versions represent a significant portion of enterprise database deployments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on these database systems for critical business operations. The vulnerability's presence in DB2 Connect Server components means that it affects distributed database environments where multiple systems communicate through the connect server, potentially enabling attackers to compromise entire database networks rather than isolated systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as privilege separation, limiting local user access to database systems, and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns or system behavior. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue means that organizations should enforce strict access controls and regular security audits of database system accounts. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on authentication and authorization events within database systems. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected DB2 versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.