CVE-2023-30449 – IBM Db2 databases running on Linux, UNIX, or Wi... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-30449?

CVE-2023-30449 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). IBM Db2 databases running on Linux, UNIX, or Windows are vulnerable to denial of service attacks through specially crafted queries. Attackers can crash or degrade database performance by exploiting improper input validation. This affects Db2 versions 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 including Db2 Connect Server.

📋 TL;DR

IBM Db2 databases running on Linux, UNIX, or Windows are vulnerable to denial of service attacks through specially crafted queries. Attackers can crash or degrade database performance by exploiting improper input validation. This affects Db2 versions 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 including Db2 Connect Server.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows
IBM Db2 Connect Server

Versions: 10.5, 11.1, 11.5

Operating Systems: Linux, UNIX, Windows

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All standard configurations are vulnerable; no special configuration required for exploitation.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete database service disruption causing application downtime, data unavailability, and potential cascading failures across dependent systems.

🟠

Likely Case

Degraded database performance, intermittent service interruptions, and increased resource consumption affecting application responsiveness.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minimal impact with proper network segmentation, query filtering, and monitoring in place to detect and block malicious queries.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - Internet-facing Db2 instances are directly exposed to attack without network-level protections.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal instances are still vulnerable to insider threats or compromised internal systems.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Requires database access credentials to execute queries, but no technical details of the crafted query are publicly available.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Apply fixes from IBM security bulletin - specific fix packs vary by version

Vendor Advisory: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7010557

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Review IBM advisory for specific fix packs. 2. Apply appropriate fix pack for your Db2 version. 3. Restart Db2 services. 4. Test database functionality.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Query Filtering and Monitoring

all

Implement application-level query validation and monitoring for unusual query patterns

Network Segmentation

all

Restrict database access to only trusted application servers and administrators

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict network access controls to limit who can connect to Db2
Deploy database activity monitoring to detect and alert on suspicious query patterns

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Db2 version: db2level command on Linux/UNIX or db2level.exe on Windows

Check Version:

db2level

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify applied fix pack version matches or exceeds IBM's recommended version in advisory

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusually complex or malformed queries in Db2 diagnostic logs
Database service restart events
High CPU/memory usage spikes

Network Indicators:

Multiple failed query attempts from single source
Unusual query patterns from application servers

SIEM Query:

source="db2*" AND ("service restart" OR "abnormal termination" OR "query error")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-30449

CVSS v3 Score: 7.5 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CWE: CWE-20

Published: July 10, 2023

Last Updated: February 13, 2025

🔗 References

https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/253439 VDB Entry,Vendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230731-0007/
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7010557 Patch,Vendor Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/253439 VDB Entry,Vendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230731-0007/
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7010557 Patch,Vendor Advisory

📤 Share & Export

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📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

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Db2 by Ibm

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case

Likely Case

If Mitigated

🎯 Exploit Status

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Instructions:

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Query Filtering and Monitoring

Network Segmentation

🧯 If You Can't Patch

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Version:

Verify Fix Applied:

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Network Indicators:

SIEM Query:

📊 Metadata

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities