iDefense Security Advisory 04.09.08 http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/ Apr 09, 2008 I. BACKGROUND IBM Corp.'s DB2 Universal Database product is a large database server product commonly used for high-end databases. The DB2 Administration Server (DAS) implements the server component to which the Java-based DB2 Control Center GUI connects. For more information, visit the product website at the following URL. http://ibm.com/db2/ II. DESCRIPTION Local exploitation of a file creation vulnerability in the Administration Server of IBM Corp.'s DB2 Universal Database allows attackers to elevate privileges to root. This vulnerability exists due to unsafe file access from within the db2dasrrm program. When a user starts the DAS, the "db2dasrrm" process is started with root privileges. As part of the initialization, the "dasRecoveryIndex", "dasRecoveryIndex.tmp", ".dasRecoveryIndex.lock", and "dasRecoveryIndex.cor" files are created with root privileges. By removing and re-creating these files as symbolic links, an attacker can create arbitrary files as root. III. ANALYSIS Exploitation allows local attackers to gain root privileges. In order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have access to an account that is allowed to start and stop the DB2 Administration Server. For example, the "dasusr1" account or an account with access to the "db2adm1" group. It should be noted that an attacker does not appear to any control over the contents of the data written. However, this does not significantly impact exploitation since the file is created using the user's umask and group. IV. DETECTION iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in IBM Corp.'s DB2 Universal Database 9.1 release with Fix Pack 3 installed on Linux. Other versions are also suspected to be vulnerable. V. WORKAROUND iDefense is currently unaware of any effective workaround for this issue. VI. VENDOR RESPONSE IBM Corp. has addressed this vulnerability with the release of V9.1 Fix Pack 4a, V8 FixPak 16, and V9.5 Fix Pack 1 of its Universal Database product. More information can be found at the following URLs. V8: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21256235 V9.1: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21255572 V9.5: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21287889 VII. CVE INFORMATION The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2007-5664 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org/), which standardizes names for security problems. VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE 10/03/2007 Initial vendor notification 10/16/2007 Initial vendor response 04/09/2008 Coordinated public disclosure IX. CREDIT This vulnerability was discovered by Joshua J. Drake (iDefense Labs). Get paid for vulnerability research http://labs.idefense.com/methodology/vulnerability/vcp.php Free tools, research and upcoming events http://labs.idefense.com/ X. LEGAL NOTICES Copyright © 2008 iDefense, Inc. Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDefense. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please e-mail customerservice@idefense.com for permission. Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information. _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/