Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows, including DB2 Connect Server. A malicious user who already has access to the DB2 instance account could abuse a fenced execution process to run code as root. It is not a remote unauthenticated issue, but it can turn privileged database access into full system compromise.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted privilege-escalation risk for DB2 hosts, not an internet-scale emergency. Prioritize systems that store sensitive data, support critical operations, or allow broad administrator access to the DB2 instance account.
Technical view
CVE-2019-4057 is a local privilege escalation in IBM DB2 LUW 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1. The issue involves fenced execution process handling and may allow arbitrary code execution as root from the DB2 instance account. CVSS v3.0 is 6.7 with local attack vector, high privileges required, low complexity, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on servers running affected IBM DB2 LUW or DB2 Connect Server versions where users, services, jobs, or administrators can access the DB2 instance account. Systems with weak operational separation around database service accounts face higher business risk.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not indicate active exploitation. CISA KEV status is false, and the CVSS vector marks exploit maturity as unproven. Exploitation requires local access and high privileges, specifically access to the DB2 instance account, but successful exploitation could result in root-level code execution.
Researcher notes
The key constraint is privilege requirement: attackers need DB2 instance account access before escalation. The impact is severe after that point because execution may occur as root. The source bundle does not provide exploit details, affected platforms beyond DB2 LUW, or exact fixed builds.
Mitigation direction
- Review IBM advisory guidance for applicable fixes or supported upgrade paths.
- Inventory DB2 LUW and DB2 Connect Server versions 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1.
- Restrict interactive and automation access to the DB2 instance account.
- Audit privileged database administration workflows that use the DB2 instance account.
- Monitor vendor guidance if exact fixed levels are not already documented internally.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether affected DB2 versions are present in production or sensitive environments.
- Verify installed DB2 fix levels against IBM’s security bulletin.
- Review who or what can authenticate as the DB2 instance account.
- Check security logs for unusual privileged activity involving DB2 fenced execution components.
- Confirm remediation evidence through change records or configuration management data.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-4057 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.7 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/A:H/I:H/UI:N/PR:H/C:H/AC:L/AV:L/RC:C/E:U/RL:O
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/S:U/A:H/I:H/UI:N/PR:H/C:H/AC:L/AV:L/RC:C/E:U/RL:O0.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
6.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/S:U/A:H/I:H/UI:N/PR:H/C:H/AC:L/AV:L/RC:C/E:U/RL:O
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ibm10880735CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- ibm-db2-cve20194057-priv-escalation (156567)CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_XF
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.