CVE-2003-0222 in Oracle9i
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Oracle Net Services for Oracle Database Server 9i release 2 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a "CREATE DATABASE LINK" query containing a connect string with a long USING parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0222 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within Oracle Net Services that affects Oracle Database Server versions 9i release 2 and earlier. This flaw exists in the handling of database link creation operations where the system processes connection strings containing excessive USING parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking in the parsing logic that manages database link configuration data, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The flaw specifically manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious CREATE DATABASE LINK query with an overly long USING parameter that exceeds the allocated buffer space, leading to potential memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental memory safety issue where data written to a stack buffer exceeds the buffer's capacity. The attack vector involves a database user executing a specially crafted SQL statement that triggers the vulnerable code path during the parsing of the connect string component within the database link creation process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can leverage this buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the database service account, which typically runs with elevated permissions on the database server. The exploitation process involves carefully constructing a database link query with an oversized USING parameter that overflows the stack buffer and overwrites return addresses or other critical memory locations, allowing for code injection and arbitrary command execution. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database servers often contain sensitive corporate data and where the database service account may have extensive system privileges. The attack requires minimal privileges to execute since database users can typically create database links, making this vulnerability accessible to both internal and external threat actors. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious commands through the database interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0222 should focus on immediate patching of affected Oracle Database Server versions, as Oracle released security patches specifically addressing this vulnerability in subsequent updates. Organizations should implement database access controls and privilege management to limit who can create database links, thereby reducing the attack surface. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help restrict database server access to only necessary applications and users. Input validation measures should be strengthened at the application level to prevent overly long parameter values from reaching the database parsing layer. Database administrators should also consider implementing database auditing and monitoring to detect suspicious CREATE DATABASE LINK operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date database systems and following secure coding practices that prevent buffer overflows through proper bounds checking and memory management. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in database configurations and custom applications that may interact with Oracle database services. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and remediation of potential exploitation attempts.