CVE-2008-3980 in Database 10g
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Upgrade component in Oracle Database 10.1.0.5 and 10.2.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3980 resides within the Upgrade component of Oracle Database versions 10.1.0.5 and 10.2.0.3, representing a critical security weakness that affects the database's integrity and confidentiality mechanisms. This unspecified vulnerability operates within the context of authenticated remote access, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to exploit the flaw, yet the impact extends to potentially compromising sensitive data and altering database operations. The Upgrade component specifically handles database version migration processes, making it a critical pathway for potential attackers seeking to manipulate database environments during upgrade procedures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Upgrade component, which allows authenticated users to execute unauthorized operations that could lead to data corruption or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The unspecified vector nature suggests that multiple attack pathways may exist, potentially encompassing privilege escalation, data manipulation, or information disclosure scenarios. This vulnerability operates at the database level and could be leveraged to compromise the underlying data integrity, particularly during upgrade processes when the system is already in a transitional state. The flaw essentially allows an authenticated attacker to bypass normal security controls that should prevent unauthorized modifications to database structures or data during upgrade operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Oracle Database 10.1.0.5 and 10.2.0.3, as it could enable attackers to compromise database integrity and confidentiality during critical upgrade procedures. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially allow attackers to alter database schemas, modify critical system parameters, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. During upgrade processes, database administrators typically have elevated privileges, and this vulnerability could be exploited to maintain persistence or escalate privileges further. The remote authentication requirement means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, but rather must have valid user credentials, which could be obtained through various social engineering or credential theft techniques. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that perform routine database upgrades, as it creates an attack window during which the system is most vulnerable.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Oracle critical patch updates and ensuring that database upgrade procedures are conducted with strict access controls and monitoring. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and may also relate to CWE-310, concerning cryptographic issues, depending on how the vulnerability manifests. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as attackers might use it to maintain access or avoid detection during database operations. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation, enforcing strict authentication controls, and conducting regular security assessments of upgrade procedures. Database administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary upgrade components and implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior during upgrade processes, which could indicate exploitation attempts.