CVE-2026-78404 in Db2
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2026
IBM Db2 11.5.0 through 11.5.9, and 12.1.0 through 12.1.5 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation via the db2pd utility.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2026
The vulnerability identified in IBM Db2 versions 11.5.0 through 11.5.9 and 12.1.0 through 12.1.5 represents a critical security flaw within the database management system's administrative utilities, specifically affecting the db2pd tool. This utility is designed to provide real-time diagnostic information about the current state of an IBM Db2 instance, including details on locks, memory usage, and active connections. While primarily intended for monitoring and troubleshooting by authorized administrators, the presence of this vulnerability allows a local attacker with limited privileges to escalate their access rights to those of a higher-privileged user or system administrator. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous because it bypasses standard authentication mechanisms that would otherwise restrict access to sensitive database operations and configuration settings.
From a technical perspective, the root cause lies in improper handling of input parameters or insufficient validation within the db2pd utility's execution logic. When an unprivileged user invokes this tool with specific arguments crafted for exploitation, the application fails to enforce proper role-based access controls before performing privileged actions. This failure enables the attacker to execute commands or retrieve data that should be restricted to database administrators. The flaw aligns closely with CWE-269, which describes Improper Privilege Management, as it involves a breakdown in enforcing least privilege principles during runtime operations. By leveraging this weakness, an adversary can manipulate the utility to gain elevated permissions without needing valid credentials for higher-level roles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as local privilege escalation fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire database environment. Once an attacker achieves administrative privileges through db2pd, they can modify or delete critical data, alter security configurations, install malicious software on the host system via database-linked features, or exfiltrate sensitive information such as customer records or financial transactions. In enterprise environments where Db2 is used for mission-critical applications, this could lead to significant business disruption, regulatory non-compliance, and substantial reputational damage. The ability to escalate privileges locally means that any user account with access to the server hosting the database instance becomes a potential entry point for full system compromise if left unpatched.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must immediately apply the latest security patches provided by IBM for the affected Db2 versions. It is essential to verify that all instances running version 11.5.x or 12.1.x are updated to their respective fixed releases. In addition to patching, administrators should enforce strict access controls on the db2pd utility itself, ensuring that only authorized personnel have execute permissions for this binary in production environments. Implementing robust monitoring and logging mechanisms can also help detect unusual usage patterns of administrative tools, providing an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and adherence to industry best practices such as those outlined in MITRE ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, are recommended to maintain a strong security posture around database infrastructure.