Overview
A critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-45675, has been discovered in IBM Informix Dynamic Server 14.10. This vulnerability allows a local user on the system to log into the Informix server as an administrator without requiring a password. This poses a significant security risk, as it could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources.
This security flaw was published on 2025-12-02 and is classified as HIGH severity.
Technical Details
The specific technical details of the vulnerability are not publicly disclosed in complete detail to prevent widespread exploitation before patching. However, it is understood that the flaw resides in the authentication mechanism of Informix Dynamic Server 14.10. A local user, through specific manipulation of environment variables or command-line arguments, can bypass the standard password authentication process and gain administrative privileges.
It’s crucial to understand that the exploit requires local system access. Therefore, systems not exposed to untrusted local users are at a lower, though not zero, risk. However, even with restricted access, privilege escalation is a severe concern.
CVSS Analysis
The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 8.4, indicating a High severity. This score considers several factors, including:
- Attack Vector (AV): Local (L) – The attacker must have local access to the system.
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – The attack is relatively easy to execute.
- Privileges Required (PR): Low (L) – An attacker with basic user privileges can exploit the vulnerability.
- User Interaction (UI): None (N) – No user interaction is required for the exploit to be successful.
- Scope (S): Changed (C) – Exploiting the vulnerability can affect components beyond the vulnerable component itself.
- Confidentiality Impact (C): High (H) – There is a high impact to confidentiality.
- Integrity Impact (I): High (H) – There is a high impact to integrity.
- Availability Impact (A): High (H) – There is a high impact to availability.
This high score highlights the significant risk posed by this vulnerability.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2024-45675 can have severe consequences:
- Data Breach: Unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the Informix database.
- Data Manipulation: Ability to modify or delete critical data.
- System Compromise: Complete control over the Informix server and potentially the underlying operating system.
- Denial of Service (DoS): Disruption of Informix service availability.
- Privilege Escalation: An attacker with limited privileges can escalate to administrator, leading to complete system control.
Organizations using IBM Informix Dynamic Server 14.10 are strongly advised to take immediate action to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
IBM has released a fix for this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation step is to apply the appropriate patch provided by IBM as soon as possible.
- Identify Affected Systems: Determine all systems running IBM Informix Dynamic Server 14.10.
- Download the Patch: Obtain the patch from the IBM Support website: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7252704.
- Apply the Patch: Follow IBM’s instructions for applying the patch to your Informix installations.
- Verify the Fix: After applying the patch, verify that the vulnerability has been successfully mitigated. This may involve testing specific attack scenarios.
- Monitor Systems: Continuously monitor your Informix systems for any suspicious activity.
If patching is not immediately feasible, consider implementing temporary workarounds, such as restricting local access to the Informix server and closely monitoring user activity. However, these are only temporary measures and should be followed by patching as soon as possible.
References
- CVE-2024-45675: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-45675
- IBM Support Page: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7252704
