CVE-2024-37071 in DB2
Summary
by MITRE • 12/07/2024
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 could allow an authenticated user to cause a denial of service with a specially crafted query due to improper memory allocation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2025
IBM Db2 database systems version 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 contain a vulnerability that allows authenticated users to trigger a denial of service condition through carefully constructed SQL queries. This vulnerability stems from improper memory allocation handling within the database engine when processing specific query patterns. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to allocate memory resources for query execution without adequate bounds checking or validation of memory requirements. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-122, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions, though in this case the impact is more accurately characterized as memory allocation failure leading to service disruption rather than traditional buffer overflow exploitation. The vulnerability exists in the query processing subsystem where the database engine fails to properly validate memory allocation requests during complex query execution scenarios, particularly those involving large result sets or recursive operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption as it affects database availability and reliability for authenticated users who can craft malicious queries to exploit the memory allocation flaw. When exploited, the vulnerability causes the Db2 server process to consume excessive memory resources or trigger memory allocation failures that result in process termination or system instability. This creates a denial of service condition that can affect database accessibility for legitimate users and potentially impact business operations dependent on database availability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Db2 serves as a critical data store for applications and services, as unauthorized or malicious authenticated users could leverage this flaw to disrupt database operations and potentially cause cascading failures in dependent systems. The attack vector requires authentication to the database system, which means that the vulnerability is not directly exploitable from external networks but rather from within the network perimeter where legitimate database users have access.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and T1566.002 for credential access through legitimate user accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates how authenticated access can be leveraged to create service disruption, emphasizing the importance of least privilege access controls and proper user authentication mechanisms. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from IBM, implementing network segmentation to limit database access, and monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns or query execution behavior. Additional defensive measures should include database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, implementing query execution limits or timeouts, and ensuring proper access controls are in place to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Organizations should also consider implementing database firewall rules and query validation mechanisms to prevent the execution of potentially malicious queries that could trigger memory allocation failures.