CVE-2025-14688
Received Received - Intake
Denial of Service in IBM Db2 due to Improper Input Handling

Publication date: 2026-04-30

Last updated on: 2026-05-01

Assigner: IBM Corporation

Description
IBM Db2 11.5.0 through 11.5.9, and 12.1.0 through 12.1.3 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) could allow an authenticated user to cause a denial of service due to improper neutralization of special elements in data query logic when certain configurations exist.
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Meta Information
Published
2026-04-30
Last Modified
2026-05-01
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2026-05-01
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-15
NVD
CVE-2025-14688
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 6 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
ibm db2 From 11.5.0 (inc) to 11.5.9 (inc)
ibm db2 From 11.5.0 (inc) to 11.5.9 (inc)
ibm db2 From 11.5.0 (inc) to 11.5.9 (inc)
ibm db2 From 12.1.0 (inc) to 12.1.3 (inc)
ibm db2 From 12.1.0 (inc) to 12.1.3 (inc)
ibm db2 From 12.1.0 (inc) to 12.1.3 (inc)
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-1284 The product receives input that is expected to specify a quantity (such as size or length), but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the quantity has the required properties.
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Compliance Impact

The provided information does not specify how this vulnerability impacts compliance with common standards and regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.

Executive Summary

This vulnerability affects IBM Db2 versions 11.5.0 through 11.5.9 and 12.1.0 through 12.1.3 on Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms, including Db2 Connect Server. It allows an authenticated user to cause a denial of service by exploiting improper neutralization of special elements in data query logic when certain configurations are present.

Impact Analysis

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service condition, meaning that an authenticated user could disrupt the normal operation of the IBM Db2 database server, potentially causing it to become unavailable or unresponsive.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability occurs when specific configuration variables are set in IBM Db2. To detect if your system is vulnerable, you should check the values of the following registry variables:

  • DB2_WORKLOAD is set to ANALYTICS or intra_parallel is set to YES
  • DB2_EXTENDED_OPTIMIZATION is set to NLJN_OFLOW

You can use the following command to check the value of DB2_EXTENDED_OPTIMIZATION:

  • db2set -all | grep DB2_EXTENDED_OPTIMIZATION

Similarly, check the other configuration variables using db2set or your system's configuration tools to confirm if the vulnerable settings are present.

Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability immediately, you can remove the problematic registry variable that triggers the issue.

  • Execute the command: db2set -im DB2_EXTENDED_OPTIMIZATION= to remove the NLJN_OFLOW setting.

Additionally, IBM provides interim fixes and special builds for affected versions. Applying these fixes is recommended for a permanent resolution:

  • For version 11.5.9, apply the special build (mod pack APAR DT458000).
  • For version 12.1.x, upgrade to version 12.1.4 or later where the fix is included.

Avoid disclosing detailed exploitation steps and ensure that only authenticated users have access to the system to reduce risk.

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