CVE-2006-7067 in Database_server
Summary
by MITRE
Oracle 10g R2 and possibly other versions allows remote attackers to trigger internal errors, and possibly have other impacts, via an "alter session set events" command with invalid arguments. NOTE: this issue was originally disputed by a third party, but the dispute was retracted. NOTE: this issue was called an "integer overflow" in the original source, but this might be incorrect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-7067 represents a significant security flaw in Oracle 10g Release 2 and potentially other versions of the database management system. This issue manifests through the manipulation of the "alter session set events" command, which is a legitimate administrative function used to modify session-level event handling within Oracle databases. The vulnerability arises when attackers submit malformed or invalid arguments to this command, triggering internal system errors that can potentially be exploited for more serious security impacts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of input validation within Oracle's database engine, specifically within the session event management subsystem. When the "alter session set events" command receives invalid parameters, the database engine fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs, leading to internal error conditions. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions, though the original classification as integer overflow may be inaccurate given the nature of session event handling. The vulnerability essentially creates a path where malformed input can cause the database to enter an unstable state, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or more severe exploitation opportunities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to database availability and integrity. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to disrupt database operations by triggering internal errors that may cause sessions to terminate unexpectedly or the database process to crash. The potential for additional impacts beyond simple error triggering suggests that this vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The ability to execute this attack remotely without requiring authentication makes it particularly dangerous in production environments where database systems are accessible over networks.
The security implications extend beyond simple service disruption, as this vulnerability could potentially be combined with other attack vectors to achieve more significant compromise. According to ATT&CK framework concepts, this issue relates to T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services and T1499 - Endpoint Termination, as it enables attackers to destabilize database services. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface assessment, particularly in environments where database administrators might be using the "alter session set events" command for legitimate purposes. The retraction of the initial dispute by the third party indicates that the vulnerability has been validated and confirmed as legitimate, reinforcing the need for proper remediation.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected Oracle 10g R2 installations and potentially other vulnerable versions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to database systems and restrict the ability of unauthorized users to execute administrative commands. Additionally, monitoring for unusual patterns in database session management and event handling should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper input validation controls and the restriction of administrative privileges to only essential personnel can further reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments of database configurations and access controls should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other database management functions.