CVE-2012-3132 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Oracle Database Server 10.2.0.3, 10.2.0.4, 10.2.0.5, 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.2, and 11.2.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via vectors involving CREATE INDEX with a CTXSYS.CONTEXT INDEXTYPE and DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3132 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Oracle Database Server versions 10.2.0.3 through 10.2.0.5 and 11.1.0.7 through 11.2.0.3. This security weakness stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms when processing specific database operations that involve the CTXSYS.CONTEXT INDEXTYPE and DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS procedures. The flaw enables authenticated remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands into the database execution environment, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted CREATE INDEX statements that utilize the CTXSYS.CONTEXT INDEXTYPE, combined with DBMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS operations. When these procedures process user-supplied input without proper sanitization, attackers can manipulate the underlying SQL execution paths to inject arbitrary commands. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in database applications. The attack vector leverages the database's statistical gathering functions to execute malicious code, making it particularly insidious as it operates through legitimate database administration interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise including unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. Attackers can escalate privileges within the database environment and potentially move laterally to other systems within the network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the database server, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed database services. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use compromised credentials to exploit this weakness, combined with T1046 (Network Service Scanning) to identify vulnerable database instances.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates, restricting database user privileges, implementing proper input validation procedures, and monitoring database audit logs for suspicious CREATE INDEX or DBMS_STATS operations. Network segmentation and firewall rules should limit access to database servers to only necessary administrative hosts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that patch implementations do not disrupt existing database operations while maintaining the security posture against this specific SQL injection threat vector.