CVE-2005-2294 in Forms
Summary
by MITRE
oracle forms 4.5 6.0 6i and 9i on unix when a large number of records are retrieved by an oracle form stores a copy of the database tables in a world-readable temporary file which allows local users to gain sensitive information such as credit card numbers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2294 represents a critical security flaw affecting Oracle Forms versions 4.5 through 9i on unix operating systems. This issue stems from improper handling of temporary file creation during database query processing, specifically when large datasets are retrieved through Oracle Forms applications. The flaw manifests when Oracle Forms generates temporary files containing database table copies, which are inadvertently created with world-readable permissions, exposing sensitive data to all local users on the system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure temporary file creation mechanism within Oracle Forms components. When processing queries that return substantial amounts of data, Oracle Forms creates temporary files to store intermediate results and table copies. These temporary files are generated without proper permission controls, resulting in files that are accessible to all users on the system. This behavior directly violates security principles and creates an information disclosure vulnerability where sensitive data including credit card numbers, personal identification information, and other confidential records can be accessed by unauthorized local users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing Oracle Forms for business applications. The exposure of sensitive data through world-readable temporary files creates an attack surface that allows local privilege escalation and data theft without requiring network access or sophisticated exploitation techniques. Security practitioners must consider that this vulnerability can be exploited by any local user, including potentially malicious insiders, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where user privileges are not strictly controlled. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA security triad, as it enables unauthorized data disclosure.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain access to sensitive information without requiring elevated privileges or network-based attacks. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which specifically addresses situations where critical resources are given improper permissions. Organizations should consider implementing proper file permission controls and temporary file management practices as part of their security hardening procedures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the appropriate Oracle patches and updates that address the temporary file creation security issues. System administrators should also implement proper file permission controls on temporary directories and ensure that Oracle Forms applications are configured to create temporary files with appropriate security settings. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of temporary file usage and implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access to temporary files. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit potential impact even if the vulnerability is present. The use of Oracle's security best practices and configuration guidelines for temporary file handling represents the most effective approach to addressing this specific vulnerability.