CVE-2022-41297 in IBM Db2U
Summary
by MITRE • 12/01/2022
IBM Db2U 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery which could allow an attacker to execute malicious and unauthorized actions transmitted from a user that the website trusts. IBM X-Force ID: 237212.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2022
IBM Db2U versions 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 contain a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. This weakness arises from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the database management system's web interface. The vulnerability resides in the web-based administrative console that handles user authentication and authorization processes, making it a critical entry point for malicious actors seeking to exploit trust relationships within the system. According to CWE-352, this represents a classic cross-site request forgery flaw where the application fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate sources. The attack vector typically involves an attacker crafting malicious web pages or emails that, when clicked by an authenticated user, automatically submit requests to the Db2U administration interface. This weakness directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes credential harvesting through spearphishing with links, where the forged requests can manipulate database configurations, modify user permissions, or execute arbitrary commands. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as attackers could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive database information, or disrupt database operations. The vulnerability affects the web administration components of IBM Db2U, which provides a graphical interface for database management tasks including user account creation, configuration changes, and system monitoring. The flaw represents a significant security gap since the web interface lacks proper CSRF protection mechanisms such as synchronizer tokens or origin validation checks. This allows attackers to leverage the trust relationship between the user's browser and the Db2U server to execute unauthorized administrative functions without requiring additional authentication credentials. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Db2U administrators have extensive privileges over database systems. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face substantial risk of data compromise and unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability impacts both the availability and integrity of database operations, as unauthorized users could potentially delete or alter critical database configurations. Security professionals should note that this weakness is particularly concerning in environments where database administrators frequently access web interfaces, as the attack surface expands with user interaction. The lack of proper CSRF protection in the web administration interface creates an opportunity for attackers to perform actions such as creating new database users, modifying existing accounts, changing database settings, or executing administrative commands that could severely impact system security and data confidentiality. According to industry best practices and security frameworks, this vulnerability should be addressed immediately through patching or implementing compensating controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block CSRF attacks targeting the affected web interfaces. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches from IBM that address the CSRF implementation weaknesses in the web administration components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access, network segmentation to limit access to the web interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities that could indicate CSRF attack attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and request origin verification in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions. Given the potential for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to database resources, organizations must prioritize remediation of this vulnerability to maintain database security posture and protect against potential data breaches.