CVE-2003-0632 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Oracle Applications Web Report Review (FNDWRR) CGI program (FNDWRR.exe) of Oracle E-Business Suite 11.0 and 11.5.1 through 11.5.8 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0632 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Oracle E-Business Suite web reporting component known as FNDWRR.exe. This CGI program serves as the Web Report Review functionality within Oracle Applications, enabling users to access and view reports through a web interface. The vulnerability manifests in versions 11.0 and 11.5.1 through 11.5.8 of the Oracle E-Business Suite, making it a widespread issue affecting multiple release lines of this enterprise resource planning software.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the FNDWRR.exe CGI program processes incoming URL parameters without adequate bounds checking. When a remote attacker submits a specially crafted URL containing an excessively long parameter value, the program fails to validate the input length against the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption. This memory corruption allows the attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses or function pointers, which can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability is classified as a classic stack-based buffer overflow according to CWE-121, where insufficient bounds checking enables attackers to overwrite stack memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway for complete system compromise. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially gaining access to sensitive business data, modifying financial records, or establishing persistent backdoors within the enterprise network. The attack vector requires only a simple web browser request, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring specialized tools or local access. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems.
The remediation approach for CVE-2003-0632 requires immediate implementation of Oracle's security patches and updates for the affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of Oracle E-Business Suite, specifically versions 11.5.9 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for this buffer overflow vulnerability. Additionally, network-level mitigations such as web application firewalls and input validation rules should be implemented to filter out suspicious URL parameters. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in enterprise web applications, reinforcing the need for secure coding standards and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.