Security Bulletin: IBM Informix Dynamic Server is affected when a specific function in the Spatial Datablade is called with an out-of-range parameter

Summary

IBM Informix Dynamic Server could crash when a specific function is called with an out-of-range parameter within the Spatial Datablade. A user would need access to the server and the ability to execute arbitrary sql to call this function.

If you ARE NOT USING the spatial technology, you can disable usage by going to the
$INFORMIXDIR/extend directory and renaming the Spatial Datablade directory, e.g.:
mv spatial.8.22.* do.not.use

If you ARE USING the spatial technology, you will need to:
1. Download the appropriate fixed blade(s) from Fix Central
2. Follow the instructions in the embedded README file

To verify the corrected Spatial Datablade is in use, you can do the following:
$ cat $INFORMIXDIR/extend/spatial.8.22./include/pedef.h | grep “New at 10.8.1”
and on Windows:
$ type $INFORMIXDIR/extend/spatial.8.22./include/pedef.h | find “New at 10.8.1”

Vulnerability Details

CVEID: CVE-2020-4799
Description: IBM Informix spatial could allow a local user to execute commands as privileged user due to an Out-Of-Bounds write vulnerability
CVSS Base Score: 7.8
CVSS Temporal Score: see https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-2020-4799 for more information
CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Products and Versions

Remediation/Fixes

Product |

Server

VRMF

|

Blade

VRMF

| Remediation / First Fix
—|—|—|—
Spatial Datablade for Informix Dynamic Server |

12.10.XC7 through

12.10.XC14

and

14.10.XC1

through

14.10.XC3

| 8.22.XC2 | https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%20Management&product=ibm/Information+Management/Informix+Tools&release=12.822.xc2.1060&platform=All&function=all
14.10.XC4W1 | 8.22.XC4 | https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm%7EInformation%20Management&product=ibm/Information+Management/Informix+Tools&release=14.822.xc4.1080&platform=All&function=all

Workarounds and Mitigations

None