DB2 raises SQLCODE=-551, SQLSTATE=42501 when the current authorization ID lacks the privilege or authority required for the attempted statement.
DB2 SQLCODE=-551, SQLSTATE 42501 appears when the user or role lacks the needed privilege (SELECT, INSERT, EXECUTE, etc.) on the referenced object. Grant the missing privilege or rerun the statement under an ID that has the authority to resolve the error.
DB2 SQL Error: SQLCODE=-551, SQLSTATE=42501, SQLERRMC=<auth-id>; <privilege>; <object-name>
DB2 returns SQLCODE -551 with SQLSTATE 42501 when the authorization ID running the statement lacks the privilege or authority named in the SQLERRMC field. The engine blocks the operation to protect data integrity and security.
The error can occur on tables, views, routines, or system resources.
The SQLERRMC token details the user, missing privilege, and fully qualified object name, helping you pinpoint what is denied.
The error surfaces during data manipulation (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE), DDL (CREATE, ALTER, DROP), utility execution, or routine invocation when the caller lacks explicit or inherited rights.
It affects all DB2 editions—LUW, z/OS, and i—though object qualifiers vary (e.g., schema.table for LUW vs.
creator.table on z/OS).
Unresolved authorization errors block application workflows, ETL pipelines, and ad-hoc analytics. Fast correction restores service continuity and prevents cascading failures or SLA breaches.
Leaving privileges too open, however, increases security risk. Apply the principle of least privilege while eliminating the immediate blocker.
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The user lacks SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, or EXECUTE rights on the target table, view, or routine.
The authorization ID does not hold SYSADM, DBADM, or LOAD authority needed for administrative or utility statements.
Privileges formerly inherited via a role or group were revoked, leaving the application account without access.
The statement references an object in a schema where the user has no privilege, even though a similarly named object exists in an authorized schema.
A trusted context ID attempted an operation outside its defined attributes, triggering privilege evaluation failure.
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Yes, DBADM implicitly includes all object privileges, but it is safer to grant only the specific privilege needed to honor least-privilege policies.
You can rerun the statement under a user or service account that already has the required rights, or create a stored procedure owned by a privileged user and grant EXECUTE on it.
Privileges are not always copied between environments. After refresh, run your privilege-granting scripts to sync authorizations.
Galaxy’s AI copilot surfaces privilege hints while you type. The editor flags missing rights, and team-wide query collections document required privileges, reducing deployment surprises.
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