CVE-2004-0637 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Oracle Database Server 8.1.7.4 through 9.2.0.4 allows local users to execute commands with additional privileges via the ctxsys.driload package, which is publicly accessible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0637 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Oracle Database Server versions 8.1.7.4 through 9.2.0.4. This issue resides in the ctxsys.driload package which is publicly accessible to local users, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. The flaw stems from improper access controls and privilege management within the database's package execution framework, allowing unauthorized local users to leverage this publicly exposed interface for malicious activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the ctxsys.driload package which operates under the context of the database's security model. This package is designed to handle specific database operations but fails to properly validate user privileges before executing commands. When local users access this package, they can bypass normal security restrictions and execute commands with additional privileges that should normally be restricted to database administrators or specific privileged accounts. This represents a classic case of insufficient privilege checking and inadequate access control mechanisms within the database server's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides local users with a direct path to escalate their privileges within the database environment. An attacker who gains local access to a system running vulnerable Oracle Database versions can exploit this flaw to execute commands with higher privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, modifying database structures, or even escalating to system-level privileges. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of the database server and can lead to complete system compromise if not properly addressed. The publicly accessible nature of the ctxsys.driload package means that any local user can attempt exploitation without requiring additional network access or complex attack vectors.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage insecure package execution to gain elevated system access. Organizations using affected Oracle Database versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential system compromise. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized data modification, information disclosure, and denial of service conditions that can severely impact business operations and compliance requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0637 include immediate patching of Oracle Database servers to versions that address this privilege escalation flaw, implementation of proper access controls to restrict access to the ctxsys.driload package, and comprehensive monitoring of database activities for suspicious command execution patterns. Database administrators should also review and tighten privilege assignments, disable unnecessary database packages, and implement network segmentation to limit local access to database servers. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in database configurations and ensure proper security hardening practices are maintained across all database environments.