CVE-2003-0096 in Oracle9i
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Oracle 9i Database release 2, Release 1, 8i, 8.1.7, and 8.0.6 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long conversion string argument to the TO_TIMESTAMP_TZ function, (2) a long time zone argument to the TZ_OFFSET function, or (3) a long DIRECTORY parameter to the BFILENAME function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0096 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple versions of Oracle Database software including Oracle 9i Database releases 1 and 2, Oracle 8i, and Oracle 8.0.6. This issue manifests through three distinct buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited remotely to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation in three specific database functions that handle time zone conversions and file path operations, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to compromise database servers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three separate attack vectors that all share the common weakness of inadequate buffer size validation. The first vector targets the TO_TIMESTAMP_TZ function with excessively long conversion string arguments, while the second exploits the TZ_OFFSET function through malformed time zone arguments. The third vector attacks the BFILENAME function using overly long DIRECTORY parameters. These functions process user-supplied input without proper bounds checking, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the database process heap. The buffer overflow conditions occur when the input exceeds the allocated memory space, potentially corrupting critical program data structures or executing malicious code injected into the overflowed memory regions.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2003-0096 can result in complete system compromise of Oracle database servers, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the database service account. This represents a severe threat to database security as it allows for data exfiltration, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit these vulnerabilities from outside the network perimeter, making them particularly dangerous for organizations with publicly accessible database systems. The vulnerability affects database operations across multiple versions, indicating a widespread impact that would require extensive patch management efforts across affected systems.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would likely first identify vulnerable systems before attempting exploitation. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches, restricting database access through firewalls, and implementing input validation controls to prevent malformed arguments from reaching vulnerable functions. Additionally, monitoring for unusual database activity and implementing network segmentation can help reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in database applications and highlights the need for regular security assessments of enterprise database systems to identify and remediate similar weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.