CVE-2023-38003 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 could allow a user with DATAACCESS privileges to execute routines that they should not have access to. IBM X-Force ID: 260214.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2023
This vulnerability resides within IBM Db2 database management systems across multiple platforms including Linux, UNIX, and Windows environments. The flaw specifically affects versions 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 of the database software, with the IBM X-Force ID 260214 providing additional context for security researchers. The core issue involves a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users possessing DATAACCESS privileges to bypass access controls and execute unauthorized database routines.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the database server's privilege management system. When users with DATAACCESS privileges attempt to execute certain database routines, the system fails to properly validate whether these users should have access to the specific operations they are attempting to perform. This represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate authorization checks that should normally prevent users from executing code or procedures beyond their assigned permissions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on IBM Db2 databases. Attackers who have obtained legitimate DATAACCESS privileges could potentially escalate their privileges to execute administrative routines, access sensitive data, or manipulate database structures. The implications extend beyond simple data access as these unauthorized routine executions could lead to data corruption, unauthorized data modification, or even complete database compromise. The vulnerability affects database servers that include Db2 Connect Server components, which means it could impact distributed database environments where connectivity between different database systems is required.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms in software systems. This weakness category encompasses issues where applications fail to properly enforce access restrictions, allowing unauthorized users or processes to gain access to resources they should not be able to access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage existing access to elevate their privileges within the database environment. The attack vector likely involves a user with legitimate database access attempting to execute specific administrative or system-level routines that should require higher privilege levels.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address this access control flaw. Database administrators should conduct comprehensive privilege reviews to ensure that users have only the minimum necessary permissions required for their roles. Network segmentation and additional monitoring of database access patterns can help detect anomalous routine executions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of database environments should include verification of access control configurations and privilege assignments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the system. The mitigation strategy should also incorporate regular auditing of database activities and implementation of least privilege principles across all database user accounts.