CVE-2019-4588

Arbitrary code execution via FlexNet DLL hijacking

Published May 26, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

DLL hijacking in IBM Db2 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 on Windows allows local users to execute arbitrary code through Check for Updates. The Check for Updates launcher starts FlexNet agent.exe in a way that permits an attacker-controlled DLL to be loaded, but IBM does not disclose the search path. Execution requires a Db2 administrator to launch the update checker from the Start menu or command line, and the loaded code runs in that process context.

CVSS severity7.4
High
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

DLL hijacking in IBM Db2 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 on Windows allows local users to execute arbitrary code through Check for Updates. The Check for Updates launcher starts FlexNet agent.exe in a way that permits an attacker-controlled DLL to be loaded, but IBM does not disclose the search path. Execution requires a Db2 administrator to launch the update checker from the Start menu or command line, and the loaded code runs in that process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-4588
Published
May 26, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.1
  2. Affected versionversion=10.5
  3. Affected versionversion=11.1
  4. Affected versionversion=11.5
  5. Affected versionversion=9.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windowsversion=10.1; version=10.5; version=11.1; version=11.5; version=9.7

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.4IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo