CVE-2010-0870 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Change Data Capture component in Oracle Database 9.2.0.8 and 9.2.0.8DV allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity, related to SYS.DBMS_CDC_PUBLISH.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0870 resides within Oracle Database's Change Data Capture component, specifically affecting versions 9.2.0.8 and 9.2.0.8DV. This represents a significant security weakness that enables authenticated remote attackers to compromise both data confidentiality and integrity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it targets the SYS.DBMS_CDC_PUBLISH package, which serves as a critical interface for managing change data capture operations within the database system. The unspecified nature of the flaw suggests a fundamental weakness in the authorization mechanisms or input validation processes that govern how the CDC publish functionality handles user requests.
The technical flaw manifests through improper access controls or privilege escalation mechanisms within the Change Data Capture framework. Attackers who have already established authenticated access to the database system can exploit this vulnerability to manipulate or extract sensitive data that should otherwise be protected. This weakness directly impacts the database's ability to maintain data integrity as malicious actors can modify change capture configurations or access captured data streams that contain sensitive information. The vulnerability's classification under the broader category of privilege escalation issues aligns with CWE-269, which addresses "Improper Privilege Management" in database systems, and more specifically relates to CWE-787, "Out-of-bounds Write" or similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that could occur during data processing within the CDC component.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0870 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables attackers to potentially manipulate the entire change data capture infrastructure. This capability allows malicious users to alter audit trails, modify replication configurations, or access sensitive transactional data that flows through the CDC system. Organizations relying on Change Data Capture for business continuity, compliance reporting, or data synchronization processes face severe risks as this vulnerability undermines the fundamental trust in their database's data integrity mechanisms. The remote nature of the attack means that even network-based threats can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the database server, making it particularly dangerous for distributed database environments.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected Oracle Database installations to the latest security releases. Network segmentation and strict firewall rules should be enforced to limit access to database systems, particularly restricting access to the SYS.DBMS_CDC_PUBLISH package. The principle of least privilege should be strictly enforced, ensuring that database users have only the minimum required permissions to perform their legitimate functions. Additionally, comprehensive monitoring of database activities should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts or modifications to CDC configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring tools that can track access patterns to sensitive packages and flag anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's relationship to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, "Valid Accounts: Cloud Infrastructure" and T1566.001, "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment", highlights the importance of comprehensive access control and monitoring strategies that address both credential-based attacks and privilege escalation scenarios.