CVE-2011-0804 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Database Vault component in Oracle Database Server 10.2.0.3, 10.2.0.4, 10.2.0.5, 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.1, and 11.2.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0804 resides within Oracle Database Server's Database Vault component, a security feature designed to protect sensitive data through role-based access controls and data protection policies. This particular flaw affects multiple versions of Oracle Database Server including 10.2.0.3, 10.2.0.4, 10.2.0.5, 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.1, and 11.2.0.2, indicating a widespread issue that could impact organizations relying on these database versions. The vulnerability is classified as unspecified, meaning the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, but the impact spans critical security domains including confidentiality and integrity.
Database Vault represents Oracle's advanced data protection solution that enables organizations to implement fine-grained access controls and protect sensitive information from both insider and outsider threats. The component operates by creating security policies that govern access to database resources and by enforcing separation of duties among database users. When a vulnerability exists within this protection mechanism, it fundamentally undermines the security posture of the entire database system. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vector suggests that attackers could potentially exploit various pathways within the Database Vault implementation, making the attack surface more difficult to predict and defend against.
The remote authenticated attack vector indicates that an attacker must first establish legitimate credentials to access the database system, which reduces the initial attack complexity but still represents a significant security risk. Once authenticated, the attacker can potentially manipulate or access protected data, leading to data breaches that compromise both confidentiality and integrity. The impact on confidentiality means that sensitive information could be accessed by unauthorized individuals, while the integrity compromise suggests that data could be modified or corrupted without detection. This vulnerability directly violates the fundamental security principles of data protection and could result in substantial business impact including regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage.
The vulnerability's classification under CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) would likely fall within categories related to security feature bypass or access control mechanisms, potentially mapping to CWE-284 for improper access control or CWE-310 for cryptographic issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could enable techniques such as privilege escalation, data manipulation, and credential access, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within database environments and exfiltrate sensitive information. Organizations implementing Database Vault as part of their security strategy would be particularly vulnerable, as the protection mechanisms designed to safeguard data become compromised.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Oracle Database Server versions to address the unspecified vulnerability within Database Vault. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and logging of database activities to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around Database Vault configuration changes and access patterns. Network segmentation and least privilege access principles should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their database environments and review Database Vault configurations to ensure proper implementation of security policies. Additionally, organizations should maintain up-to-date security patches and implement robust incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining current security patches for database management systems and underscores the need for comprehensive security monitoring in database environments where sensitive data resides.