CVE-2023-38728Network attack vector

Authenticated service interruption via crafted XML query

Published Oct 16, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Improper input validation in IBM Db2 10.5.0.x, 11.1.4.x, and 11.5.x allows remote authenticated users to interrupt database service. IBM has not disclosed which XML query-processing locus mishandles crafted statements or the resulting database failure mode. Network reachability, low database privileges, and a high-complexity crafted XML query are required; IBM reports availability loss only.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.78%
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

Improper input validation in IBM Db2 10.5.0.x, 11.1.4.x, and 11.5.x allows remote authenticated users to interrupt database service. IBM has not disclosed which XML query-processing locus mishandles crafted statements or the resulting database failure mode. Network reachability, low database privileges, and a high-complexity crafted XML query are required; IBM reports availability loss only.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38728
Published
Oct 16, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
Classifications
CWE-20, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 2025Record 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=10.5, 11.1 ,11.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windowsversion=10.5, 11.1 ,11.5

Published CVSS scores

5.3IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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