CVE-2011-3519 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Applications Framework component in Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1.2 and 12.1.3 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality, related to REST Services.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3519 resides within the Oracle Applications Framework component of Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.1.2 and 12.1.3, representing a significant security weakness that affects the confidentiality of data transmitted through REST services. This unspecified vulnerability specifically targets the communication mechanisms used by authenticated users to interact with the enterprise suite, creating potential exposure points for sensitive information that should remain protected. The Oracle Applications Framework serves as a foundational layer for numerous business applications within the E-Business Suite, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could impact multiple downstream systems and processes that rely on secure data transmission.
The technical flaw manifests in how the REST services within the Oracle Applications Framework handle authenticated user sessions and data processing, allowing malicious actors with valid credentials to potentially access confidential information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically exploits weaknesses in the framework's handling of RESTful web services that are commonly used for integration and data exchange within enterprise environments. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that the exact technical mechanism enabling the confidentiality breach has not been fully detailed in public disclosures, though it likely involves improper access controls or data validation mechanisms within the REST service implementations. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 284 indicates potential issues with improper access control, while its impact on confidentiality aligns with CWE 310, which addresses cryptographic issues and data protection weaknesses.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations utilizing Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.1.2 and 12.1.3, as it enables remote authenticated users to potentially access sensitive business data, financial records, customer information, and other confidential materials that should remain protected within the enterprise environment. The remote aspect of the attack vector means that threat actors do not require physical access to the network or system, significantly expanding the potential attack surface and making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation may be inadequate. Organizations relying on REST services for integration with external systems or internal applications face increased risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and potential regulatory penalties. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as compromised data could lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and operational disruption. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential harvesting, as it leverages legitimate authenticated sessions to access restricted information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3519 should prioritize immediate implementation of Oracle's security patches and updates specifically addressing this vulnerability in the affected E-Business Suite versions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to REST services and restrict authentication to only necessary users and systems. Additional controls include implementing robust monitoring and logging of REST service activities to detect anomalous access patterns, enforcing strict access control policies, and conducting regular security assessments of the Oracle Applications Framework. Security teams should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this type of confidentiality breach. Organizations should review their current authentication mechanisms and ensure that proper session management is in place to minimize the potential impact of credential compromise. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched environments to ensure that the vulnerability is fully resolved without introducing new issues that could impact business operations.