📄 Description (English)
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 11.5.0 - 11.5.9 could allow an instance owner to execute malicious code that escalate their privileges to root due to execution of unnecessary privileges operated at a higher than minimum level.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
IBM Db2 versions 11.5.0-11.5.9 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2025-36184) allowing instance owners to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. The vulnerability stems from unnecessary elevated privilege execution, affecting Linux, UNIX, and Windows deployments. With a CVSS score of 7.2 and no public exploit currently available, this poses a significant risk to organizations running vulnerable Db2 instances, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 8, 2026 19:18
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), government agencies (NCA oversight), healthcare organizations (MOH systems), energy sector (ARAMCO, SEC), and telecommunications (STC, Mobily). Db2 is widely deployed in enterprise data centers across these sectors. Instance owners with legitimate access could escalate to root, compromising entire database systems, customer data, and critical operational systems. The risk is particularly acute for organizations running legacy Db2 11.5.x versions in production environments without recent patching cycles.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Manufacturing
Retail and E-commerce
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Db2 instances running versions 11.5.0-11.5.9 across your infrastructure
2. Restrict instance owner account privileges to minimum necessary permissions
3. Implement strict access controls limiting who can assume instance owner role
4. Enable comprehensive audit logging for all Db2 instance owner activities
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade to Db2 11.5.10 or later immediately
2. For Db2 Connect Server, apply corresponding security patches
3. Test patches in non-production environments first
4. Schedule maintenance windows for production upgrades
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Implement OS-level privilege restrictions using SELinux or AppArmor
2. Use containerization with restricted capabilities for Db2 processes
3. Monitor for suspicious privilege escalation attempts
4. Implement file integrity monitoring on Db2 binaries and configuration files
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for setuid/setgid bit changes on Db2 executables
2. Alert on any privilege escalation attempts from Db2 instance owner accounts
3. Track execution of system commands from Db2 processes
4. Monitor for unauthorized root-level process spawning from Db2 services
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع حالات Db2 التي تعمل بالإصدارات 11.5.0-11.5.9 عبر البنية التحتية
2. تقييد امتيازات حساب مالك الحالة إلى الحد الأدنى الضروري
3. تطبيق ضوابط وصول صارمة تحد من يمكنه افتراض دور مالك الحالة
4. تفعيل تسجيل التدقيق الشامل لجميع أنشطة مالك حالة Db2
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. الترقية إلى Db2 11.5.10 أو إصدار أحدث فوراً
2. بالنسبة لـ Db2 Connect Server، تطبيق تصحيحات الأمان المقابلة
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج أولاً
4. جدولة نوافذ الصيانة لترقيات الإنتاج
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تطبيق قيود الامتيازات على مستوى نظام التشغيل باستخدام SELinux أو AppArmor
2. استخدام الحاويات مع قدرات مقيدة لعمليات Db2
3. مراقبة محاولات تصعيد الامتيازات المريبة
4. تطبيق مراقبة سلامة الملفات على ملفات Db2 التنفيذية وملفات التكوين
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة تغييرات بت setuid/setgid على ملفات Db2 التنفيذية
2. التنبيه على أي محاولات تصعيد امتيازات من حسابات مالك حالة Db2
3. تتبع تنفيذ أوامر النظام من عمليات Db2
4. مراقبة توليد عمليات على مستوى الجذر غير المصرح به من خدمات Db2
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
5.1.1 - Access Control and Authentication
5.2.1 - Privilege Management
5.3.1 - System Hardening
6.1.1 - Vulnerability Management
6.2.1 - Patch Management
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software Inventory
PR.AC-1 - Access Control
PR.AC-4 - Access Rights Management
PR.MA-2 - Address Identified Vulnerabilities
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability Scans
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.6.2.1 - Information security awareness, education and training
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - User access management
A.8.2.3 - Management of privileged access rights
A.8.3.1 - Password management
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
2.2.4 - Configure system security parameters
6.2 - Ensure all system components are protected from known vulnerabilities
8.1 - Assign unique ID to each person with computer access
8.2 - Restrict access to cardholder data by business need to know
🔗 References & Sources 1
📦 Affected Products / CPE 3 entries
ibm:db2
ibm:db2
ibm:db2