CVE-2008-1816 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Oracle Database 10.1.0.5 and 10.2.0.3 have unknown impact and remote authenticated attack vectors related to (1) SDO_UTIL in the Oracle Spatial component, aka DB05; or (2) fine grained auditing in the Audit component, aka DB14. NOTE: the previous information was obtained from the Oracle CPU. Oracle has not commented on reliable researcher claims that DB05 is SQL injection.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1816 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle Database versions 10.1.0.5 and 10.2.0.3, specifically affecting the Oracle Spatial component and fine grained auditing functionality. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers, creating potential pathways for unauthorized access and data manipulation within database environments. The classification as unspecified vulnerabilities indicates that Oracle did not provide detailed technical specifications regarding the exact nature of the flaws, though subsequent research has suggested that the SDO_UTIL component may be susceptible to SQL injection attacks.
The first vulnerability vector relates to SDO_UTIL within the Oracle Spatial component, designated as DB05, which has been independently researched and confirmed to potentially allow SQL injection attacks. This component handles spatial data operations and geospatial functions within Oracle Database, making it a critical area for exploitation. The second vulnerability involves fine grained auditing in the Audit component, labeled as DB14, which controls detailed logging and monitoring of database activities. Both components operate within the core database architecture and provide functionality that, when compromised, can lead to severe security implications. The authenticated nature of the attack vectors suggests that exploitation requires valid database credentials, but once achieved, the impact can extend beyond simple privilege escalation to include data exfiltration, modification, and potential system compromise.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond immediate data security concerns to encompass broader enterprise risks including unauthorized data access, potential data corruption, and disruption of database services. The remote attack capability means that malicious actors can exploit these flaws from external network locations without requiring physical access to the database infrastructure. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable database versions face significant exposure to attacks that could result in financial loss, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The combination of authenticated remote access and the potential for SQL injection attacks creates a particularly dangerous threat scenario where attackers can manipulate database queries to extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which describes SQL injection flaws and potentially maps to ATT&CK techniques involving command and control, data extraction, and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1816 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle Database versions to the latest security updates provided by Oracle. Organizations must also implement network segmentation to limit access to database systems and enforce strict access controls through proper authentication mechanisms. Database administrators should conduct thorough reviews of audit configurations and ensure that fine grained auditing is properly configured to detect suspicious activities. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring solutions that can identify anomalous database access patterns and regularly reviewing database logs for signs of exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary database components and ensuring that only required database features are active to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate potential security weaknesses in database infrastructure.