CVE-2003-1208 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Oracle 9i 9 before 9.2.0.3 allow local users to execute arbitrary code by (1) setting the TIME_ZONE session parameter to a long value, or providing long parameters to the (2) NUMTOYMINTERVAL, (3) NUMTODSINTERVAL or (4) FROM_TZ functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2025
Oracle Database 9i versions prior to 9.2.0.3 contain multiple buffer overflow vulnerabilities that represent critical security weaknesses in the database engine's handling of time zone and interval conversion functions. These vulnerabilities arise from insufficient input validation and boundary checking when processing user-supplied parameters in specific database functions. The flaw exists within the database's internal memory management system where fixed-size buffers are used to store user-provided values without adequate bounds checking, creating opportunities for malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The vulnerability manifests through four distinct attack vectors that all exploit the same underlying memory corruption issue. The first vector involves setting the TIME_ZONE session parameter to an excessively long string value, while the second through fourth vectors target the NUMTOYMINTERVAL, NUMTODSINTERVAL, and FROM_TZ database functions respectively. Each of these functions processes user input without proper buffer size validation, allowing attackers to supply parameter values that exceed the allocated buffer space. This design flaw directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to be written beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions.
From an operational perspective, these buffer overflows present a severe threat to database security as they enable local privilege escalation attacks. An authenticated user with access to the database can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the database process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack requires minimal privileges since users only need database connection access, making these vulnerabilities particularly dangerous in environments where database users have broad access rights. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specially formatted input strings that overwrite return addresses or function pointers in the call stack, potentially allowing attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code.
The impact extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader system compromise and data integrity threats. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, while attackers may also use these vulnerabilities to establish persistent backdoors or escalate privileges to system administrator levels. The vulnerability affects organizations running Oracle 9i versions before the 9.2.0.3 patch release, representing a significant risk to database security infrastructure. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches, restricting database user privileges, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to database systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary defense involves upgrading to Oracle 9i 9.2.0.3 or later versions that contain the necessary security fixes for these buffer overflow conditions. Database administrators should also implement input validation controls at the application level, particularly for functions that manipulate time zone and interval data. Network security measures including firewall rules and database access controls can limit the attack surface by restricting direct database connections from untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual parameter values or patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of these vulnerabilities, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to track and alert on suspicious usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.