Advisory Details

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files on affected installations of IBM Informix. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the bts_tracefile function. When parsing the trace filename, the process does not properly validate a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the service account.

This vulnerability is being disclosed publicly without a patch in accordance with ZDI policies.

02/19/20 – ZDI reported the vulnerability to the vendor
02/19/20 – The vendor acknowledged the report
02/27/20 – The vendor requested technical clarification
02/28/20 – ZDI provided additional evidence
03/06/20 – The vendor indicated it was a configuration issue
03/18/20 – ZDI provided additional evidence
07/03/20 – ZDI requested an update
07/21/20 – ZDI requested an update
07/21/20 – The vendor indicated it was a configuration issue
07/21/20 – ZDI provided additional evidence and notified the vendor of the intention to publish the case as a 0-day advisory on 07/28/20

-- Mitigation:
Given the nature of the vulnerability, the only salient mitigation strategy is to restrict interaction with the service. Only the clients and servers that have a legitimate procedural relationship with the service should be permitted to communicate with it.

• 2020-02-19 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
• 2020-07-28 - Coordinated public release of advisory