Features
The current user or role lacks the privilege or authority needed to access or modify the specified object.
DB2 SQLCODE -551 / SQLSTATE 42501 means an authorization failure. The user or role executing the statement lacks the required privilege on the target object or EXECUTE authority on the routine. Grant the missing privilege or run the statement with a properly authorized ID to resolve the error.
SQLCODE=-551, SQLSTATE=42501: authorization error: user or role "<USER>" does not have the required authorization for operation "<OPERATION>" on object "<OBJECT>".
SQLCODE -551 with SQLSTATE 42501 signals an authorization failure in IBM Db2. The database manager stopped the statement because the current authorization ID or role does not hold the needed privilege or authority on the referenced object.The error appears during INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, SELECT, ALTER, GRANT, or routine calls when Db2 detects missing privileges. Fixing it quickly restores application functionality and guards against security loopholes.
Missing object-level privilege triggers the error most often. Examples include lacking SELECT on a table, EXECUTE on a stored procedure, or USAGE on a sequence.Running statements under the wrong schema or auth ID also leads to -551. Tools that switch connections silently can change your effective ID.Revoked privileges, role changes, or migration between environments can remove previously granted rights, causing sudden failures.
Identify the exact privilege in the error text. Determine whether a table, view, routine, schema, or database authority is missing.Connect as a security administrator and issue the appropriate GRANT statement, or ask a DBA to grant the privilege to the required user or role.If you cannot grant privileges, rerun the statement using a service account that already possesses the necessary authority.
Reporting query fails: grant SELECT on the table or view to the reporting user role.ETL job cannot INSERT: grant INSERT or control on the staging tables, or use LOAD privilege for bulk operations.Application cannot call a procedure: grant EXECUTE on the procedure to the application role and BINDADD if packages must be rebound.
Adopt role-based access control, granting privileges to roles instead of individuals for easier maintenance.Automate privilege grants in deployment pipelines to keep dev, test, and prod environments aligned.Audit privilege changes regularly; catch unexpected revokes before they reach production users.
SQLCODE -552: occurs when a user lacks a database-level authority such as SYSADM; fix by granting the authority.SQLCODE -553: indicates attempted privilege grant without SECADM authority; resolve by using SECADM or delegating grants.SQLCODE -104: syntax error, not related to privilege issues but often misdiagnosed alongside -551.
Lack of SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, or EXECUTE privilege on the target object.
Privilege revoked after environment refresh or role change.
Using the wrong authorization ID due to connection pooling or SET CURRENT SQLID.
Schema mismatch when object exists under another owner.
SQLCODE=-552: User lacks required database authority.SQLCODE=-553: Attempt to grant privilege without SECADM.SQLCODE=-104: SQL syntax error often confused with privilege errors.SQLCODE=-922: Connection authorization failure due to DB QUIESCE or authority issues.
No. The error surfaces for any missing privilege—INSERT, DELETE, EXECUTE, REFERENCES, or database authorities.
A SYSADM-level ID can run the statement, but using such high privilege in applications is discouraged. Grant only the minimal rights needed.
The object, operation, and authorization ID appear in the error text. Query the catalog views SYSCAT.TABAUTH, COLAUTH, or ROUTINEAUTH for confirmation.
Galaxy’s AI copilot detects missing privileges during query composition and suggests the needed GRANT. Shared query history highlights errors so teams can resolve them collaboratively.
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