CVE-2025-14689 Overview
CVE-2025-14689 is a denial of service vulnerability affecting IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) versions 12.1.0 through 12.1.3. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of special elements in data query logic when processing federated objects, allowing an authenticated user to cause a denial of service condition.
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt database availability by crafting malicious queries against federated objects, potentially causing service outages for dependent applications and business operations.
Affected Products
- IBM Db2 for Linux 12.1.0 through 12.1.3
- IBM Db2 for UNIX 12.1.0 through 12.1.3
- IBM Db2 for Windows 12.1.0 through 12.1.3
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-17 - CVE-2025-14689 published to NVD
- 2026-02-18 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-14689
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1284 (Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input), indicating a failure to properly validate and neutralize special elements within data query logic. The flaw specifically manifests when the Db2 database engine processes queries involving federated objects—database objects that reference external data sources.
The improper neutralization allows an authenticated user to craft specially formatted queries that contain malicious special elements. When the Db2 query processor encounters these elements within federated object operations, it fails to handle them correctly, leading to resource exhaustion or processing errors that result in denial of service.
The attack requires network access and low-privilege authentication, meaning an attacker needs valid database credentials but does not require administrative privileges to exploit this vulnerability. No user interaction is required for exploitation.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in insufficient input validation within the query processing engine when handling special elements in data queries that involve federated database objects. The Db2 engine fails to properly sanitize or validate special characters and sequences before processing them in the context of federated operations, allowing malformed input to cause unexpected behavior.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability is exploitable over the network by any authenticated database user. An attacker with valid credentials can connect to the Db2 instance and submit specially crafted SQL queries targeting federated objects. The attack does not require administrative privileges, making it accessible to any user with basic database access.
The exploitation path involves:
- Authenticating to the Db2 database with valid credentials
- Constructing a query that targets federated objects
- Injecting special elements into the query that are not properly neutralized
- Submitting the query to trigger the denial of service condition
Since no public exploit code is currently available, the technical specifics of the malicious query structure have not been disclosed. Organizations should refer to the IBM Security Advisory for detailed technical information.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14689
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected database service crashes or restarts, particularly when processing federated queries
- Abnormal patterns of federated object access from authenticated users
- Database error logs showing query parsing failures related to federated operations
- Resource exhaustion indicators such as high CPU or memory usage during query processing
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Db2 diagnostic logs for errors related to federated object query processing
- Implement database activity monitoring to track unusual query patterns against federated objects
- Configure alerting for sudden database availability issues or service restarts
- Review authentication logs for unusual access patterns to federated database schemas
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for federated object operations within Db2
- Implement real-time monitoring of database health metrics and availability status
- Configure SIEM integration for Db2 logs to correlate potential exploitation attempts
- Establish baseline metrics for normal federated query activity to identify anomalies
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14689
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the IBM security advisory and apply the recommended patches as soon as possible
- Audit user accounts with access to federated objects and restrict privileges where feasible
- Implement network segmentation to limit database access to authorized systems only
- Increase monitoring on federated object queries pending patch deployment
Patch Information
IBM has released a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Administrators should visit the IBM Support Page to obtain the latest security patches for affected Db2 versions. It is recommended to test patches in a non-production environment before deploying to production systems.
Workarounds
- Restrict user permissions for federated object access to only essential personnel
- Implement strict input validation at the application layer before queries reach the database
- Consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to federated objects if they are not critical to operations
- Deploy network-level access controls to limit database connectivity to trusted sources
# Example: Review federated object access privileges in Db2
db2 "SELECT GRANTEE, PRIVILEGE, FEDNAME FROM SYSCAT.FEDPRIVILEGES"
# Example: Audit users with federated access
db2 "SELECT AUTHID, PRIVILEGE FROM SYSCAT.DBAUTH WHERE FEDACCESSAUTH = 'Y'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
