CVE-2008-2613 in Database Scheduler
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Database Scheduler component in Oracle Database 10.2.0.4 and 11.1.0.6 has unknown impact and local attack vectors. NOTE: the previous information was obtained from the Oracle July 2008 CPU. Oracle has not commented on reliable researcher claims that this is an untrusted search path issue that allows local users to gain privileges via a malicious (1) libclntsh.so or (2) libnnz10.so library.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2613 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Database's Database Scheduler component affecting versions 10.2.0.4 and 11.1.0.6. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability, indicating that the precise technical details were not fully disclosed in the initial reporting. The vulnerability is particularly concerning due to its local attack vector characteristics, meaning that an attacker would need physical or local system access to exploit the flaw, yet the potential impact remains severe enough to warrant immediate attention.
The technical nature of this vulnerability is believed to be related to an untrusted search path issue within the database scheduler component. This type of flaw typically occurs when an application searches for libraries or executables in a predictable order without proper validation of the source or integrity of the files being loaded. The specific libraries mentioned in the researcher claims include libclntsh.so and libnnz10.so, which are critical Oracle client libraries responsible for database connectivity and network operations. When these libraries are placed in directories that are searched before system directories, malicious actors can potentially substitute legitimate library files with compromised versions to execute arbitrary code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant privilege escalation risk for local attackers who can manipulate the library search path to load malicious code with elevated privileges. The Database Scheduler component typically operates with elevated permissions to manage database jobs and scheduled tasks, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to database resources. The impact of such an exploit could range from unauthorized data access and modification to complete database compromise, depending on the privileges of the scheduler process and the specific database configuration.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path or Working Directory and CWE-20 Improper Input Validation categories, both of which are fundamental security concerns in software development and system administration. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially bypass traditional security controls and gain access to sensitive database information, perform unauthorized operations, or establish persistent access to the database environment. The local nature of the attack vector means that traditional network-based security measures may not prevent exploitation, requiring additional system-level security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2613 should focus on implementing proper library path management and privilege separation within the Oracle Database environment. System administrators should ensure that Oracle client libraries are installed in secure, non-writable directories and that the library search path is properly configured to prioritize system directories over user-accessible locations. Additionally, implementing the principle of least privilege for database scheduler processes and regularly monitoring for unauthorized library modifications can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Oracle's official patch release addressing this vulnerability should be applied immediately to prevent potential compromise of database systems. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining strict file permissions and conducting regular security audits of database environments to identify and remediate similar path traversal and library loading vulnerabilities that could affect other database components or applications.