CVE-2011-2239 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Core RDBMS 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, integrity, and availability, related to XMLSEQ_IMP_T.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2239 resides within Oracle Database Server's Core RDBMS component, specifically affecting multiple version releases including 10.2.0.3 through 10.2.0.5 and 11.1.0.7 through 11.2.0.2. This unspecified weakness manifests in the XMLSEQ_IMP_T functionality which represents a critical flaw in the database's handling of XML data sequences. The vulnerability's classification as remote authenticated indicates that an attacker must possess valid database credentials to exploit the issue, yet the impact extends across all three fundamental security principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The Core RDBMS component serves as the foundational element for database operations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of XML sequence data structures during import operations within the database engine. XMLSEQ_IMP_T functionality is designed to process and import XML data sequences, but the flaw allows authenticated users to manipulate this process in ways that can lead to unauthorized data access, data corruption, or system disruption. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains classified or was not fully disclosed in the initial CVE record, though such vulnerabilities typically involve memory corruption, buffer overflows, or improper input validation during XML processing. This type of flaw often falls under the CWE categories related to improper input validation or insufficient error handling in data processing components.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2239 represents a significant risk to database security environments as it enables authenticated attackers to potentially compromise sensitive data integrity and confidentiality while also creating availability risks through system instability or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects organizations running affected Oracle Database versions where XML data processing is utilized, which could include financial systems, enterprise resource planning applications, or any environment that relies on XML data integration. Attackers could exploit this weakness to extract confidential information from database tables, modify critical data records, or potentially cause system crashes that would impact business operations. The remote aspect of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need physical access to the database server, making it particularly concerning for organizations with database systems accessible over networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates released for this vulnerability, which would typically address the underlying XML processing flaws in the Core RDBMS component. Database administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring for XML-related database operations, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's database access techniques. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and data manipulation within database environments. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Oracle Database versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and limiting database access to authorized users only can help reduce the attack surface for this type of authenticated vulnerability. Organizations should also review their database audit logging configurations to detect any suspicious XML processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.