CVE-2011-2253 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 SYSDBA.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2253 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Database Server's Core RDBMS component 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 specifically targets the SYSDBA privilege level within the database architecture, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by authenticated remote adversaries. The vulnerability's impact spans all three fundamental pillars of information security confidentiality integrity and availability making it particularly dangerous for database environments where sensitive data resides. The Core RDBMS component serves as the foundational element for database operations and is responsible for managing core database functions including user authentication and privilege enforcement mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation or control mechanisms within the database server's handling of SYSDBA privileges when processing remote authenticated connections. This flaw allows attackers who have already established legitimate database authentication credentials to potentially escalate their privileges or exploit additional weaknesses within the database system. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed but typically such flaws in database privilege handling involve improper access control checks or insufficient validation of administrative operations. The vulnerability affects the database server's ability to properly enforce security boundaries when SYSDBA users perform operations remotely, potentially allowing unauthorized data manipulation or exposure.
Operationally this vulnerability creates severe risks for organizations relying on Oracle Database Server for critical data storage and processing. Attackers with minimal authentication credentials could potentially compromise database integrity by modifying or deleting sensitive information while simultaneously gaining access to confidential data through the elevated SYSDBA privileges. The availability impact could manifest through denial of service conditions or database corruption that would disrupt business operations and potentially result in complete database unavailability. Organizations using affected Oracle Database versions face significant operational risks including data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the database server, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for distributed database environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2253 should prioritize immediate patch application from Oracle's security updates which would address the underlying privilege validation issues within the Core RDBMS component. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit remote database access to only essential administrative users while maintaining strict monitoring of database activities. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that database users maintain only the minimum required permissions necessary for their operational functions. Security teams should implement comprehensive database activity monitoring and auditing to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts or suspicious administrative activities. Additionally organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in their database environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and potentially maps to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing database firewall solutions and network access control lists to further restrict database server communications and reduce the attack surface.