CVE-2004-2229 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unknown vulnerabilities in Oracle 9i Lite Mobile Server 5.0.0.0.0 through 5.0.2.9.0 allow remote authenticated users to gain privileges.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2016
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2229 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle 9i Lite Mobile Server versions 5.0.0.0.0 through 5.0.2.9.0 that enables remote authenticated users to escalate their privileges within the system. This issue falls under the category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities, which are particularly dangerous as they allow attackers who have already established some level of access to increase their permissions and potentially gain administrative control over the affected server. The vulnerability is classified as having an unknown nature, indicating that the specific technical details of the flaw were not fully disclosed at the time of the initial report, which is common with certain types of privilege escalation vulnerabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls or authentication mechanisms within the Oracle 9i Lite Mobile Server implementation. While the exact flaw remains unspecified, such vulnerabilities typically arise from weaknesses in how the system handles user sessions, authentication tokens, or privilege verification processes. The fact that this affects authenticated users suggests that the vulnerability exists in the server's handling of legitimate user sessions or in the privilege management system that governs what authenticated users can and cannot do within the system. This type of vulnerability directly relates to CWE-284, which covers improper access control, and represents a classic example of how authentication systems can be subverted to allow unauthorized privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2229 is significant for organizations utilizing Oracle 9i Lite Mobile Server in their mobile computing environments. Remote authenticated privilege escalation capabilities can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or disrupt services. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require network-level access or complex attack vectors - authenticated users can exploit it to gain higher privileges, potentially enabling them to access other users' data or system resources they should not normally have access to. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate credentials.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Oracle, which would likely address the underlying privilege escalation mechanism. Network segmentation and monitoring of authentication activities should be enhanced to detect suspicious privilege escalation attempts. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened, ensuring that users have the minimum necessary privileges to perform their functions. Additionally, regular security audits of the mobile server configuration and user access management should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures and the risks associated with legacy systems that may not receive continued security support. Security teams should consider implementing additional monitoring for authentication events and privilege changes, as these activities would be the primary indicators of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential privilege escalation attacks that could leverage this vulnerability.