CVE-2023-47152 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows version 11.5, including Db2 Connect Server. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-209, which involves the generation of error messages containing sensitive information. Specifically, under exceptional conditions, the Db2 software may disclose sensitive information through stack traces or error messages. Additionally, the vulnerability involves the use of an insecure cryptographic algorithm, which could potentially weaken the protection of sensitive data handled by the database system. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.9, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) shows that the vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring privileges or user interaction, but with high attack complexity. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as sensitive information disclosure could aid attackers in further exploitation or reconnaissance. There is no indication of integrity or availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked yet. The vulnerability arises from error handling mechanisms that inadvertently expose internal details and from cryptographic weaknesses that could undermine data security.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive information leakage from IBM Db2 database environments, which are widely used in enterprise settings for critical data management. Disclosure of stack traces or cryptographic weaknesses could allow attackers to gain insights into the internal workings of the database system, potentially facilitating further targeted attacks or data breaches. This is particularly concerning for sectors handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. The confidentiality breach could lead to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or system availability, the information disclosed could be leveraged in multi-stage attacks. The high attack complexity somewhat limits immediate exploitation, but the lack of required privileges or user interaction means that remote attackers could attempt to exploit this vulnerability without authentication, increasing the threat surface.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigations: 1) Monitor IBM’s official security advisories closely for patches or updates addressing CVE-2023-47152 and apply them promptly once available. 2) Implement strict error handling and logging policies to ensure that detailed error messages and stack traces are not exposed to end users or external systems. This may involve configuring Db2 to suppress verbose error output or redirect it to secure internal logs. 3) Review and strengthen cryptographic configurations within Db2 environments, replacing any insecure algorithms with industry-standard, strong cryptographic methods compliant with current best practices (e.g., AES with appropriate key lengths). 4) Employ network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to restrict access to Db2 servers, limiting exposure to trusted networks and known IP addresses. 5) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on database error handling and cryptographic implementations to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. 6) Educate database administrators and developers on secure coding and configuration practices to avoid inadvertent sensitive information disclosure.