CVE-2008-0347 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Ultra Search component in Oracle Collaboration Suite 10.1.2; Database 9.2.0.8, 10.1.0.5, and 10.2.0.3; and Application Server 9.0.4.3 and 10.1.2.0.2; has unknown impact and local attack vectors, aka OCS01. NOTE: Oracle has not disputed a reliable claim that this issue is related to WKSYS schema privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0347 resides within the Oracle Ultra Search component of Oracle Collaboration Suite version 10.1.2, affecting multiple Oracle database and application server versions including Database 9.2.0.8, 10.1.0.5, and 10.2.0.3, alongside Application Server 9.0.4.3 and 10.1.2.0.2. This unspecified weakness represents a security flaw that exists within Oracle's enterprise software ecosystem, specifically targeting the search functionality component that enables users to query and retrieve information from various data sources within the collaboration environment. The vulnerability's classification as having unknown impact and local attack vectors indicates that the precise nature of the security breach remains unclear, though the potential for exploitation from local system access points suggests a significant risk to internal network security. The vulnerability is also known by the alias OCS01, which helps identify it within Oracle's internal tracking systems and security advisories.
The technical nature of this vulnerability appears to be fundamentally related to schema privileges within the WKSYS schema, which is a critical component in Oracle's Web Application Server and Ultra Search functionality. The WKSYS schema serves as a foundational element for Oracle's web search capabilities and contains various database objects necessary for search operations, including tables, procedures, and functions that enable the system to index and retrieve content from different sources. When a weakness exists within the privilege management of this schema, it creates potential for unauthorized access to sensitive database objects and operations that should typically be restricted to privileged users only. This particular flaw falls under the category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities and is classified as a weakness in the underlying security architecture of Oracle's collaborative software suite.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0347 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to gain elevated privileges within the Oracle environment. Local attack vectors suggest that an attacker with access to the system could exploit this vulnerability to escalate their privileges, potentially gaining access to administrative functions or sensitive data that should be protected. This type of vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Oracle Collaboration Suite in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the system, as it creates opportunities for malicious insiders or compromised local accounts to exploit the privilege structure. The lack of specific impact details in the vulnerability description indicates that the full scope of potential damage remains unknown, but given the nature of schema privilege issues, the implications could include data manipulation, unauthorized access to business-critical information, or complete system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies focusing on privilege management and access controls. The primary recommendation involves reviewing and tightening the privileges assigned to the WKSYS schema, ensuring that only necessary components have access to critical database objects. This aligns with the principle of least privilege as outlined in cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes the importance of limiting user access rights to only what is necessary for their job functions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit local access points and reduce the attack surface for local exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following Oracle's security advisories, as this issue represents a weakness in the software's privilege management system that could potentially be exploited through various attack vectors including those categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their Oracle environments to identify any additional schema privilege issues that may exist within their deployment.
The vulnerability demonstrates the complex nature of enterprise software security where seemingly isolated components like search functionality can contain fundamental flaws that affect overall system integrity. This particular issue underscores the critical importance of proper privilege management in database systems and the potential for local privilege escalation vulnerabilities to create widespread security impacts. The fact that Oracle has not disputed the claim linking this issue to WKSYS schema privileges indicates that the company recognizes the severity of the problem and likely has specific patching procedures available to address the vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual privilege escalation activities or unauthorized access attempts to schema objects, as these activities may indicate exploitation of this or similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that enterprise software security requires comprehensive approaches that consider not just individual components but the interdependencies between different system elements and how privilege structures interact across the entire software ecosystem.