CVE-2023-38720 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 11.5 and 11.5 is vulnerable to denial of service with a specially crafted ALTER TABLE statement. IBM X-Force ID: 261616.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-38720 affects IBM Db2 database management systems running on Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms including the Db2 Connect Server component. This security flaw represents a significant concern for organizations relying on Db2 for critical data operations as it exposes the system to potential denial of service attacks through specifically crafted database commands. The vulnerability impacts both Db2 11.5 release versions, indicating a broad scope of affected systems within the database ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed ALTER TABLE statement that triggers an abnormal termination of database processes. When processed by the Db2 server, this malformed command causes the database service to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the database unavailable to legitimate users and applications. The flaw demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and error handling within the database engine's processing of table modification commands, creating an avenue for malicious actors to disrupt database operations without requiring elevated privileges or authentication credentials.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to database availability and business continuity. Organizations utilizing Db2 11.5 may experience unexpected service interruptions, data access failures, and potential revenue losses due to database unavailability. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as database downtime can cascade into application failures, customer service degradation, and compliance violations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with basic knowledge of database administration commands.
The security implications of CVE-2023-38720 align with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit database access, and monitoring for suspicious database activity patterns. Additionally, database administrators should consider implementing input validation measures and restricting ALTER TABLE privileges to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive database security monitoring to prevent exploitation of similar flaws in database management systems.