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Several flaws have been discovered in IBMs DB2 Universal Database that can be exploited to cause DoS attacks, to reveal sensitive information, to read and manipulate file content, or to compromise vulnerable systems.
An advisory posted Thursday on the bug-reporting site Secunia rates the flaws as moderately critical, with IBM having already issued a FixPak for DB2 versions 8.x.
IBMs advisory states that the vulnerabilities were discovered on Dec. 10. The new vulnerabilities follow close on the heels of three FixPaks that IBM released in October to address multiple vulnerabilities in DB2 on Linux, Unix and Windows platforms.
The specifics on one of the flaws is that an error in the Windows platform relating to the way system resources are used can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service attack, to grab users passwords or to view other query results.
A second flaw has to do with processing of network messages while establishing a database connection or instance attachment. Attackers can exploit the flaw to execute arbitrary code.
Another flaw deals with missing restrictions in some XML Extender user-defined functions. Exploits result in malicious users being able to read or manipulate file content.
Finally, when creating certain databases within federated support, attackers can exploit a flaw that allows them to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.
IBM advises all users of Unix, Linux and Windows platforms, as well as users of DB2 UDB clients, servers and Connect gateway installations, to install FixPaks 6a, 6b and 7a.
IBM advises all of the above users, plus users of DB2 XML Extender, to install FixPak 8. Windows-specific fixes in FixPak 8 also apply to DB2 clients, but the risk isnt serious, according to IBM, and therefore the fix isnt crucial.
In general, IBM advises DB2 UDB administrators to upgrade all DB2 client, server and Connect gateway instances on all supported platforms to DB2 UDB Version 8.1 FixPak 8 “as soon as possible.” The only exceptions are DB2 UDB client instances on Version 8.1 FixPak 6a, 6b or 7a, which dont need to move up to the FixPak 8 level.
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