CVE-2026-40342
Description
A flaw was found in Firebird, an open-source relational database management system. An authenticated user with CREATE FUNCTION privileges can exploit a path traversal vulnerability in the external engine plugin loader. This allows an attacker to use a crafted engine name to load an arbitrary shared library from anywhere on the filesystem. The library's initialization code executes immediately, leading to arbitrary code execution as the server's operating system account.
Statement
Red Hat Product Security has determined that this vulnerability does not affect any currently supported Red Hat product. This assessment may evolve based on further analysis and discovery. For more information about this vulnerability and the products it affects, please see the linked references.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, restrict `CREATE FUNCTION` privileges to only trusted users within the Firebird database. If these privileges are not essential for normal operation, consider revoking them from all users to prevent exploitation of this path traversal vulnerability. This operational control limits the attack surface by ensuring only authorized entities can attempt to load external engine plugins.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
The attacker may be able to create or overwrite critical files that are used to execute code, such as programs or libraries.
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Files or Directories
The attacker may be able to overwrite or create critical files, such as programs, libraries, or important data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, appending a new account at the end of a password file may allow an attacker to bypass authentication.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Files or Directories
The attacker may be able read the contents of unexpected files and expose sensitive data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, by reading a password file, the attacker could conduct brute force password guessing attacks in order to break into an account on the system.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
The attacker may be able to overwrite, delete, or corrupt unexpected critical files such as programs, libraries, or important data. This may prevent the product from working at all and in the case of protection mechanisms such as authentication, it has the potential to lock out product users.
Frequently Asked Questions
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