CVE-2011-3523 in Fusion Middleware
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Web Services Manager component in Oracle Fusion Middleware 10.1.3.5.0 and 10.1.3.5.1 allows remote authenticated users to affect integrity, related to WSM Console.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3523 resides within Oracle Web Services Manager component of Oracle Fusion Middleware versions 10.1.3.5.0 and 10.1.3.5.1, representing a significant security weakness that impacts the integrity of web services operations. This flaw specifically affects the WSM Console interface, which serves as the primary management and configuration point for web services within the Oracle Fusion Middleware environment. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though the impact on system integrity suggests a critical weakness in the component's handling of authenticated user requests.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the Oracle Web Services Manager's insufficient validation mechanisms within its console interface, allowing authenticated attackers to manipulate the integrity of web service configurations and operations. This weakness enables malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials to potentially alter or corrupt web service policies, security settings, and operational parameters without proper authorization. The attack vector requires only authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would likely map to CWE-284: Improper Access Control, as it involves unauthorized modification of system resources through a legitimate administrative interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3523 extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to potentially compromise the entire web services infrastructure managed by Oracle Fusion Middleware. Attackers could manipulate security policies, alter service configurations, or corrupt web service definitions, leading to service disruptions, unauthorized data access, or complete service compromise. The WSM Console's role as a central management interface means that successful exploitation could affect multiple web services simultaneously, creating widespread operational damage. This vulnerability directly contradicts the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the web services environment, potentially leading to broader system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates, restricting access to the WSM Console through network segmentation, and implementing additional monitoring controls around the affected component. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1078: Valid Accounts and T1566: Phishing, as exploitation requires legitimate credentials and could be facilitated through credential compromise. Additional security controls should focus on monitoring administrative activities within the WSM Console, implementing role-based access controls, and establishing audit trails for all configuration changes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure configuration management practices and regular security assessments of middleware components to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.