CVE-2007-5513 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
The XML DB (XMLDB) component in Oracle Database 9.2.0.8, 9.2.0.8DV, and 10.1.0.5 generates incorrect audit entries in the USERID column in which (1) long usernames are trimmed to 5 characters, or (2) short entries contain any extra characters from usernames in previous entries, aka DB23.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5513 affects the XML DB component within Oracle Database versions 9.2.0.8, 9.2.0.8DV, and 10.1.0.5, representing a significant weakness in the database's audit logging mechanism. This issue specifically impacts the USERID column within audit entries, creating a scenario where user identification information becomes corrupted and potentially misleading. The flaw manifests in two distinct ways that compromise the integrity of audit trails and user accountability within database systems. The first manifestation occurs when long usernames exceeding five characters are truncated to exactly five characters, effectively destroying user identity information. The second manifestation involves data contamination where short audit entries inadvertently inherit extra characters from usernames belonging to previous audit events, creating a cross-contamination effect between different user activities.
This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in the storage of data that can lead to buffer overflows and memory corruption, as well as CWE-200, which deals with information exposure through improper handling of user identification data. The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate buffer management and string handling within the XML DB audit logging subsystem, where insufficient bounds checking allows for the corruption of user identification information during audit record generation. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the database engine, specifically affecting the audit trail generation functionality that is critical for security monitoring and compliance requirements. The improper handling of user identification data in audit logs creates a scenario where security analysts cannot accurately correlate user activities with specific database operations, potentially masking malicious activities or creating false positives in security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it fundamentally undermines the reliability of audit trails that organizations depend upon for security monitoring, compliance reporting, and forensic analysis. When audit logs contain truncated or contaminated user identification information, security teams lose the ability to accurately track user activities, identify unauthorized access attempts, or conduct proper incident response procedures. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on database audit trails for regulatory compliance, such as those subject to SOX, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS requirements, where accurate user identification is mandatory for audit readiness. The contamination of audit entries can lead to false conclusions during security investigations, potentially allowing malicious activities to go undetected while generating false alarms for legitimate user activities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches that address this specific audit logging flaw, as well as implementing additional monitoring controls to detect and alert on suspicious audit entry patterns. Database administrators should consider implementing custom audit triggers or logging mechanisms that can validate the integrity of user identification information before it is written to audit tables. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of comprehensive testing of security features during database upgrades and patches, as this issue demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in audit systems can have significant security implications. Additionally, organizations should review their overall audit logging strategy to ensure that alternative methods exist for tracking user activities when primary audit mechanisms are compromised, and consider implementing centralized logging solutions that can cross-validate audit information from multiple sources to maintain data integrity even when individual components fail.