CVE-2023-47701 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 is vulnerable to denial of service with a specially crafted query. IBM X-Force ID: 266166.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-47701 affects IBM Db2 database management systems across multiple platforms including Linux, UNIX, and Windows environments. This issue specifically targets Db2 versions 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5, which are widely deployed in enterprise environments for data management and storage solutions. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered through the execution of specially crafted database queries. This represents a significant security concern for organizations relying on Db2 for critical business operations, as it could potentially disrupt database availability and compromise system reliability. The vulnerability was identified and catalogued by IBM with their internal X-Force ID 266166, indicating the severity and attention this issue has received within the security community.
The technical flaw underlying this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the query processing mechanisms of the Db2 database engine. When a maliciously constructed query is submitted to the database system, the processing logic fails to properly handle the malformed input, leading to system resource exhaustion or process termination. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-400 which categorizes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" as a weakness that can lead to denial of service conditions. The query parsing and execution engine appears to lack adequate defensive measures to prevent malformed inputs from causing system instability, allowing attackers to exploit the gap in input validation controls. The vulnerability exploits the database's inability to gracefully handle unexpected query structures, potentially causing the database service to crash or become unresponsive.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely affect business continuity and data availability for organizations using affected Db2 versions. When a denial of service occurs, database applications that depend on these systems may experience complete or partial unavailability, leading to potential revenue loss, customer dissatisfaction, and operational downtime. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to execute, as any authenticated user with database access can potentially trigger the vulnerability. This makes the attack surface wide and accessible to both internal and external threat actors. Organizations may experience cascading effects as dependent applications, reporting systems, and business processes that rely on database availability become compromised, potentially leading to extended downtime and significant operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-47701 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from IBM, as the vendor has likely released security fixes addressing the specific input validation issues. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit database exposure, ensuring that only authorized users can submit queries to the affected systems. Database administrators should consider implementing query monitoring and rate limiting mechanisms to detect and prevent potentially malicious query patterns. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to avoid unexpected compatibility issues. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service" and represents a common attack pattern where adversaries seek to disrupt services through resource exhaustion or process termination. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations and ensure comprehensive protection against related threats.