CVE-2023-40692 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 10.5, 11.1, 11.5 is vulnerable to denial of service under extreme stress conditions. IBM X-Force ID: 264807.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2023
IBM Db2 database management system versions 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 contain a vulnerability that can lead to denial of service conditions under extreme stress scenarios. This weakness manifests when the system experiences high load conditions that exceed normal operational parameters, causing the database server to become unresponsive or crash entirely. The vulnerability affects both the core Db2 database engine and the Db2 Connect Server component, which facilitates connectivity between different database systems. The flaw operates by exploiting resource exhaustion mechanisms within the database's memory management and connection handling processes, particularly when multiple concurrent connections or complex queries are processed simultaneously under heavy load conditions. This vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks as classified by CWE-400, where malicious actors can intentionally trigger system resource depletion to cause service disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the database server's inability to properly manage memory allocation and connection pooling under extreme stress conditions. When subjected to intensive workloads, the system's internal resource management mechanisms fail to maintain proper boundaries, leading to memory leaks or excessive memory consumption that ultimately results in system instability. The operational impact is significant as database availability is compromised, affecting business continuity and potentially causing cascading failures in applications that depend on the database for their operations. This vulnerability can be exploited through various means including sending a large number of concurrent requests or executing resource-intensive queries that push the system beyond its operational limits, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database stability is critical.
Organizations running affected IBM Db2 versions should implement immediate mitigation strategies to reduce exposure to this vulnerability. The primary recommended approach involves applying the latest security patches and updates provided by IBM to address the underlying memory management issues. System administrators should also implement connection throttling mechanisms and resource limits to prevent any single process or user from consuming excessive system resources. Monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of resource consumption that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper load balancing and capacity planning can help distribute workloads more evenly across available resources, reducing the likelihood of triggering the vulnerability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service and the T1566.001 technique for social engineering through network attacks, as it can be leveraged to disrupt database services through carefully crafted stress conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust resource management and stress testing in database systems to prevent exploitation through resource exhaustion attacks.