CVE-2007-3856 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Data Mining component for Oracle Database 10g Release 2 10.2.0.2 and 10.2.0.3, 10g 10.1.0.5, and Oracle9i Database Release 2 9.2.0.7, 9.2.0.8, and 9.2.0.8DV has unknown impact and remote authenticated attack vectors related to DMSYS.DMP_SYS, aka DB04.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3856 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Data Mining component of Oracle Database systems spanning multiple versions including 10g Release 2 10.2.0.2 and 10.2.0.3, 10g 10.1.0.5, and Oracle9i Database Release 2 9.2.0.7, 9.2.0.8, and 9.2.0.8DV. This issue specifically affects the DMSYS.DMP_SYS schema object and is categorized under the broader Oracle Database security landscape. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact nature of the flaw was not fully disclosed in the initial description, which is common with early vulnerability disclosures where full technical details may not have been immediately available to the public or security researchers.
The technical flaw resides within the Oracle Data Mining component's handling of database schema objects, particularly the DMSYS.DMP_SYS component which is part of Oracle's data mining functionality. This component is designed to provide data mining capabilities within Oracle Database environments, enabling users to perform sophisticated analytical operations on database content. The vulnerability allows for potential privilege escalation or unauthorized access to database resources through authenticated attack vectors, meaning that an attacker must first establish legitimate database credentials before exploiting this weakness. The impact of such a vulnerability can be severe as it directly affects database security controls and could potentially allow unauthorized users to access sensitive data or execute malicious operations within the database environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3856 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to gain elevated privileges within the database system. This vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users who may have legitimate database access but lack the necessary permissions for certain operations. The remote attack vector indicates that exploitation can occur across network boundaries, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where database systems are accessible over networks. The unspecified nature of the impact means that depending on the specific implementation and configuration, attackers could potentially access sensitive database objects, modify data, or even execute arbitrary code within the database environment. This aligns with common attack patterns found in database security vulnerabilities and reflects the broader category of privilege escalation issues that have been documented in various database systems over the years.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability falls under the CWE classification for privilege escalation and access control issues, specifically related to database schema manipulation. The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses database administrators and regular users who have legitimate access to the database but could potentially exploit this weakness to gain additional privileges or access to restricted database components. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected Oracle Database versions, implementation of proper access controls and monitoring, and regular security assessments of database environments. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date database systems and following Oracle's security advisories, as this issue represents a known weakness that was addressed through subsequent security patches and updates to the Oracle Database software. Organizations should prioritize this vulnerability for remediation as it represents a potential entry point for attackers seeking to exploit database security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information within their database infrastructure.