CVE-2024-39724 Overview
IBM Db2 Big SQL on Cloud Pak for Data contains a resource exhaustion vulnerability that fails to properly limit the allocation of system resources. An authenticated user with internal knowledge of the environment could exploit this weakness to cause a denial of service condition, impacting the availability of the database service.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with knowledge of the environment can cause service disruption through resource exhaustion, affecting business-critical database operations.
Affected Products
- IBM Db2 Big SQL version 7.6 on Cloud Pak for Data 4.8
- IBM Db2 Big SQL version 7.7 on Cloud Pak for Data 5.0
- IBM Db2 Big SQL version 7.8 on Cloud Pak for Data 5.1
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-04 - CVE-2024-39724 published to NVD
- 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-39724
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-770 (Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling). The flaw exists in IBM Db2 Big SQL's resource management mechanisms, which fail to implement adequate controls on system resource allocation. When an authenticated user with sufficient knowledge of the internal environment submits specially crafted requests, the system does not properly constrain resource consumption, leading to potential exhaustion of available system resources.
The attack requires network access and authenticated privileges, along with specific knowledge of the target environment's internal configuration. While this raises the complexity of successful exploitation, the impact on availability can be significant for organizations relying on Db2 Big SQL for critical data operations.
Root Cause
The root cause stems from improper resource allocation controls within IBM Db2 Big SQL. The system lacks adequate throttling mechanisms to prevent excessive resource consumption when processing certain requests. This architectural oversight allows authenticated users who understand the environment's internal workings to craft requests that consume disproportionate system resources without being properly limited or terminated.
Attack Vector
The attack is network-based and requires authenticated access to the Db2 Big SQL environment. An attacker must possess:
- Valid authentication credentials to access the system
- Internal knowledge of the environment's configuration and resource handling
- Network connectivity to the target Db2 Big SQL instance
The attacker can then submit requests designed to trigger excessive resource allocation, ultimately exhausting system resources and causing denial of service. The network-based attack vector combined with the requirement for authentication and specific environmental knowledge makes this a targeted attack scenario rather than an opportunistic one.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39724
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual spikes in CPU, memory, or I/O utilization on Db2 Big SQL nodes
- Abnormal query patterns or excessive resource allocation requests from authenticated users
- Service degradation or unavailability of Db2 Big SQL components
- Error logs indicating resource exhaustion or allocation failures
Detection Strategies
- Monitor system resource utilization metrics for Db2 Big SQL instances and set alerting thresholds
- Implement query analysis to detect anomalous patterns that could indicate resource exhaustion attempts
- Review authentication logs for unusual access patterns from users with elevated knowledge or privileges
- Deploy application performance monitoring to identify resource bottlenecks before complete exhaustion
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure alerting for resource utilization exceeding baseline thresholds on Cloud Pak for Data clusters
- Enable detailed audit logging for Db2 Big SQL query execution and resource allocation events
- Implement real-time dashboards for monitoring Db2 Big SQL service health and availability
- Establish baseline resource consumption patterns to enable anomaly detection
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39724
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the IBM Support Page for official remediation guidance
- Apply available patches or updates from IBM for affected Db2 Big SQL versions
- Implement resource quotas and limits where possible to constrain user resource consumption
- Review and restrict access for users with internal knowledge of the environment
Patch Information
IBM has released security advisories and remediation guidance for this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the IBM Support Page for specific patch information, version updates, and detailed remediation steps applicable to their Cloud Pak for Data deployment.
Workarounds
- Implement resource limits and quotas at the Cloud Pak for Data platform level to constrain individual user consumption
- Restrict network access to Db2 Big SQL instances using firewall rules and network segmentation
- Review and minimize the number of users with access to internal environment configuration details
- Enable enhanced monitoring and automatic service restart capabilities to recover from resource exhaustion events
# Example: Configure resource monitoring alerts (adjust thresholds based on environment)
# This is a conceptual example - consult IBM documentation for specific configuration
# Monitor CPU utilization on Db2 Big SQL pods
oc set resources deployment/db2-bigsql --limits=cpu=4,memory=16Gi --requests=cpu=2,memory=8Gi -n <namespace>
# Enable resource quotas at namespace level
oc create quota bigsql-quota --hard=cpu=16,memory=64Gi -n <namespace>
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
