CVE-2007-5507 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
The GIOP service in TNS Listener in the Oracle Net Services component in Oracle Database 9.0.1.5+, 9.2.0.8, 9.2.0.8DV, 10.1.0.5, and 10.2.0.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or read potentially sensitive memory via a connect GIOP packet with an invalid data size, which triggers a buffer over-read, aka DB22.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5507 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the GIOP service of Oracle Net Services component in the TNS Listener. This issue affects multiple versions of Oracle Database including 9.0.1.5 and later, 9.2.0.8, 9.2.0.8DV, 10.1.0.5, and 10.2.0.3, making it a widespread concern across Oracle database installations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing connect GIOP packets that contain invalid data size specifications, creating a condition where the system attempts to read beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions that occur when a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer, potentially exposing sensitive information or causing system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted GIOP packets that manipulate the data size field within the connection request, leading to a buffer over-read condition in the TNS Listener service. When the listener processes such malformed packets, it attempts to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, which can result in either a complete system crash or the unintentional disclosure of memory contents that may contain sensitive information such as database credentials, session tokens, or other confidential data. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it accessible to any attacker with network access to the Oracle database listener port. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks against applications and services.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5507 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially expose sensitive data through memory disclosure, creating both availability and confidentiality risks for affected Oracle database environments. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Oracle Database face significant operational challenges as this vulnerability can be exploited to cause unauthorized system crashes, leading to service interruptions that may affect business operations. The memory disclosure aspect adds additional risk as attackers could potentially extract database connection information, user credentials, or other sensitive data from the memory segments that are read beyond their intended boundaries. System administrators must consider the potential for cascading failures if multiple database instances are affected, as the TNS Listener service is a critical component for database connectivity and communication within Oracle environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5507 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle Database versions with the appropriate security updates released by Oracle. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Oracle database listener ports to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous GIOP packet patterns and unusual connection attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and boundary checking within the database listener configuration can help reduce the impact of malformed packets. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary services and features within Oracle Net Services to minimize potential attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to address known issues before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios, aligning with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-40 and ISO/IEC 27001 security frameworks.