CVE-2002-0567 in Oracle9i
Summary
by MITRE
Oracle 8i and 9i with PL/SQL package for External Procedures (EXTPROC) allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary functions by using the TNS Listener to directly connect to the EXTPROC process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0567 represents a critical security flaw in Oracle Database versions 8i and 9i that affects the External Procedures (EXTPROC) functionality within the PL/SQL environment. This vulnerability stems from improper authentication mechanisms within the Oracle TNS Listener component, which is responsible for managing client connections to the database. The flaw allows remote attackers to directly connect to the EXTPROC process without proper authentication, creating an unauthorized access vector that bypasses normal database security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the design of the Oracle TNS Listener and its interaction with external procedures. When Oracle Database processes external procedures through the EXTPROC mechanism, it relies on the TNS Listener to establish connections to external executable programs. However, the vulnerability occurs because the listener does not properly validate authentication credentials before allowing connections to the EXTPROC process. This weakness enables attackers to craft specific TNS packets that directly target the external procedure listener, circumventing the normal database authentication flow that would typically require valid user credentials and proper authorization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to database security as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary functions on the database server with the privileges of the Oracle user account. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no prior authentication, making it accessible to anyone who can reach the database server through network connections. Successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, data theft, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that have implemented Oracle 8i or 9i databases with external procedures enabled, which was common in enterprise environments during the early 2000s.
The security implications of CVE-2002-0567 align with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in remote services to gain access to systems. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling external procedures if not required, applying the appropriate Oracle security patches, and restricting network access to database servers through firewall rules. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of TNS listener communications can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication controls in database environments and demonstrates how misconfigurations in network services can create dangerous attack surfaces that bypass traditional security mechanisms.