CVE-2008-2591 in Database 9i
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Database Vault component in Oracle Database 9.2.0.8DV, 10.2.0.3, and 11.1.0.6 has unknown impact and remote authenticated attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2591 resides within Oracle Database Vault component, a security feature designed to protect database contents from privileged users and unauthorized access. This particular flaw affects multiple versions of Oracle Database including 9.2.0.8DV, 10.2.0.3, and 11.1.0.6, representing a significant attack surface that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors. Database Vault serves as a critical security layer that enforces data access policies and prevents unauthorized database access even from privileged users with elevated privileges, making any vulnerability within this component particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective.
The technical nature of this vulnerability remains unspecified in the original description, which is common for certain types of security flaws that may involve complex interactions between database components and security policies. However, the classification as affecting Database Vault suggests potential weaknesses in the privilege management or access control mechanisms that this component employs. The vulnerability allows for remote authenticated attack vectors, meaning that an attacker who has already gained legitimate access credentials to the database system could potentially exploit this weakness to bypass security controls or escalate privileges. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of post-authentication attacks that leverage weaknesses in the security enforcement mechanisms rather than initial access breaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability could be substantial for organizations relying on Oracle Database Vault for their security posture. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they may be able to circumvent the protection mechanisms that Database Vault is designed to provide, potentially gaining access to sensitive data or performing unauthorized administrative functions. The unspecified impact means that the consequences could range from data exposure to complete system compromise, depending on how the vulnerability manifests within the specific database environment. Organizations with sensitive data assets, particularly those in regulated industries, would face significant risk if this vulnerability were exploited in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2591 should focus on immediate patching of affected Oracle Database versions to the latest security patches provided by Oracle Corporation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential attack surface for database systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and may relate to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers might leverage legitimate credentials to exploit this weakness. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Database Vault configurations and implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and proper configuration management practices should be maintained to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future.
This vulnerability represents a critical security gap in Oracle Database Vault's privilege enforcement mechanisms and demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls in database environments. The remote authenticated attack vector indicates that the flaw could be exploited without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with remote database access capabilities. Organizations should prioritize remediation efforts and consider implementing additional security controls beyond the Database Vault component to ensure comprehensive protection against potential exploitation attempts.