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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4701: IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes DB2 Connect Server) 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 is vulnerable to a b...

IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes DB2 Connect Server) 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 is vulnerable to a buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking which could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system with root privileges.

HighCVSS 8.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM DB2 on Linux, UNIX, and Windows has a high-impact local buffer overflow issue. A local attacker could run code with root privileges, turning limited system access into full control of an affected DB2 host.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority server hardening and patching issue. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but root-level impact on database infrastructure creates serious business risk if local access is compromised.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4701 affects IBM DB2 for LUW, including DB2 Connect Server, versions 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5. The flaw is improper bounds checking leading to buffer overflow. CVSS v3.0 is 8.4, with local attack vector, low complexity, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations running affected IBM DB2 LUW or DB2 Connect Server versions where an attacker can obtain local access to the host.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and this CVE is not marked in KEV. The CVSS temporal vector lists exploit maturity as unproven, but successful exploitation could yield root-level code execution.

Researcher notes

The public bundle identifies product, affected major versions, impact, CVSS, and IBM references, but does not include detailed vulnerable component internals or exact fixed build levels. Avoid assuming exploit availability or additional affected IBM products.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory DB2 LUW and DB2 Connect Server installations and versions.
  • Use IBM’s advisory to identify and apply the official corrected level.
  • Restrict local shell access to DB2 servers to trusted administrators.
  • Review privileged account controls on affected database hosts.
  • Monitor IBM support guidance for version-specific remediation details.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether DB2 versions 10.5, 11.1, or 11.5 are installed.
  • Compare installed fix pack levels against IBM’s advisory.
  • Verify DB2 Connect Server deployments are included in the review.
  • Review local user access paths to database hosts.
  • Check host logs for unexpected privileged process activity.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

description · low confidence lookup

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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-4701 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/PR:N/AC:L/I:H/A:H/S:U/AV:L/C:H/E:U/RC:C/RL:O

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.4CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/UI:N/PR:N/AC:L/I:H/A:H/S:U/AV:L/C:H/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.55.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.4High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4701Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/PR:N/AC:L/I:H/A:H/S:U/AV:L/C:H/E:U/RC:C/RL:O

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
IBMDB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows10.5, 11.1, 11.5Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.