CVE-2011-2248 in Enterprise Manager Grid Control
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the SQL Performance Advisories/UIs component in Oracle Database Server 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.1, and 11.2.0.2; and Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control 10.1.0.6, 10.2.0.5, and 11.1.0.1; allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, related to SQL Details UI & Explain Plan.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2248 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Database Server components, specifically affecting SQL Performance Advisories and User Interfaces. This vulnerability impacts multiple versions of Oracle Database Server including 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.1, and 11.2.0.2, alongside Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control versions 10.1.0.6, 10.2.0.5, and 11.1.0.1. The affected components are part of Oracle's performance monitoring and advisory tools that provide database administrators with insights into SQL execution plans and performance optimization recommendations. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed in the public domain, though it is known to be related to SQL Details UI and Explain Plan functionalities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems. This triad of impacts suggests that an attacker could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive database information, modify critical system data, or disrupt service availability through denial-of-service attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the user interface components that display SQL execution details and explain plans, indicating that the attack vector likely involves manipulating the presentation layer or underlying data processing mechanisms within these performance advisory tools. The weakness exists within the handling of SQL details and explain plan information, which are fundamental components of database performance analysis and optimization processes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Oracle Database environments for mission-critical applications. Database administrators who utilize the SQL Performance Advisories and related UI components for routine monitoring and optimization activities become potential targets for attackers exploiting this flaw. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as the vulnerability affects core database operations that are essential for maintaining system integrity and performance. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, manipulation of performance metrics, or service disruption that could compromise entire database environments. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the systems, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where database servers are accessible over the internet.
The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the categories of privilege escalation and credential access. The weakness in the SQL Details UI and Explain Plan components could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to database resources through manipulation of performance advisory data. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability likely relates to weaknesses in input validation or data handling within user interface components, potentially classified under CWE-20 for improper input validation or CWE-79 for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in the UI rendering components. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches, restricting network access to database servers, and monitoring for suspicious activities in performance advisory usage patterns. The remediation process requires careful coordination between database administrators and security teams to ensure that the vulnerability is properly addressed while maintaining system functionality and performance monitoring capabilities.