CVE-2005-3206 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
iSQL*Plus (isqlplus) for Oracle9i Database Server Release 2 9.0.2.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (TNS listener stop) via an HTTP request with an sid parameter that contains a STOP command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3206 affects iSQLPlus, a web-based database administration tool bundled with Oracle9i Database Server Release 2 version 9.0.2.4. This flaw resides within the TNS (Transparent Network Substrate) listener component that handles network communication between client applications and the Oracle database server. The vulnerability manifests when the iSQLPlus web interface processes HTTP requests containing a specific sid parameter that includes a STOP command, leading to unintended system behavior that disrupts normal database operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted HTTP request that targets the iSQL*Plus web application interface. When an attacker submits an HTTP request with an sid parameter containing the STOP command, the system interprets this input as a legitimate administrative directive rather than malicious input. This misinterpretation causes the TNS listener to execute the STOP command, effectively terminating the listener process and rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users. The flaw represents a classic case of improper input validation and command injection, where user-supplied data is directly processed without adequate sanitization or authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited by remote attackers to effectively disable database services without requiring authentication or privileged access. This makes it particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is critical for business operations. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad, as it can be leveraged to perform denial of service attacks against Oracle database systems. The TNS listener stop command terminates the network listener that accepts connections from database clients, causing all legitimate database access to fail until the listener is manually restarted, potentially resulting in significant downtime and business disruption.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories related to command injection and improper input handling, respectively. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a Denial of Service technique under the T1499 sub-technique, specifically targeting network services. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches, disabling the iSQL*Plus component if not essential, and implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to the vulnerable web interface. Additionally, input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent execution of administrative commands through web interfaces, and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous patterns in HTTP request parameters that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and the potential for web-based administrative interfaces to become attack vectors when not properly secured against command injection attacks.