CVE-2007-3860 in APEX
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Application Express (formerly Oracle HTML DB) 2.2.0.00.32 up to 3.0.0.00.20 allows developers to have an unknown impact via unknown attack vectors, aka APEX01. NOTE: a reliable researcher states that this is SQL injection in the wwv_flow_security.check_db_password function due to insufficient checks for " characters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
Oracle Application Express represents a web-based development environment that enables rapid application development for oracle databases. The vulnerability in question affects versions ranging from 2.2.0.00.32 through 3.0.0.00.20, indicating a broad impact across multiple releases within the apex framework. This particular vulnerability manifests as an unspecified weakness that could potentially allow attackers to manipulate database operations through developer-facing interfaces, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these applications. The issue specifically involves the wwv_flow_security.check_db_password function which serves as a critical security control for database credential validation.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the check_db_password function where the system fails to properly sanitize user inputs containing double quote characters. This insufficient validation creates an environment where malicious actors can inject crafted payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially execute unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability operates as a sql injection attack vector where the lack of proper parameter sanitization allows attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries through the web interface. This weakness directly relates to common security patterns where improper input handling creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive database resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential complete system compromise through unauthorized database access. Attackers could leverage this weakness to bypass authentication controls and gain access to underlying database systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, modification of critical business data, or even system-wide compromise. Organizations using affected apex versions face significant risk as the vulnerability exists within core security functions that protect database connections and user authentication. The attack vector remains unspecified but likely involves manipulation of password fields or database connection parameters through the web interface.
Security mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected apex versions to address the input validation deficiencies in the check_db_password function. Organizations must implement comprehensive input sanitization controls and validate all user-supplied data before processing within security-critical functions. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of apex applications to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual authentication patterns or database access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with common weakness patterns identified in cwe-89 sql injection categories and represents a typical attack surface that could enable privilege escalation attacks according to attack technique frameworks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar input validation weaknesses across the application stack and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.