CVE-2013-0355 in Enterprise Manager Grid Control
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Enterprise Manager Base Platform component in Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control EM Base Platform 10.2.0.5 and 11.1.0.1, and EM DB Control 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.2, and 11.2.0.3, allows remote attackers to affect integrity via unknown vectors related to Distributed/Cross DB Features.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0355 resides within Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control's Enterprise Manager Base Platform component, affecting multiple versions including 10.2.0.5 and 11.1.0.1 for the EM Base Platform, alongside EM DB Control versions 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.2, and 11.2.0.3. This issue represents a significant security weakness in Oracle's enterprise monitoring infrastructure that serves as a critical management platform for large-scale database deployments. The vulnerability specifically targets the Distributed/Cross DB Features functionality, which enables administrators to manage multiple database instances across different platforms through a centralized interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the distributed database feature implementation, allowing malicious actors to manipulate database operations across multiple systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to compromise data integrity through unspecified attack vectors that likely involve crafted database commands or manipulated communication protocols between distributed components. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that Oracle did not provide detailed information about the exact nature of the attack surface, though the implications suggest potential for data corruption, unauthorized modifications, or malicious command execution across interconnected database systems. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how distributed systems can create attack surfaces that extend beyond individual components.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0355 extends far beyond simple data integrity concerns, as it affects the fundamental trust model of Oracle Enterprise Manager deployments. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions face potential for widespread data corruption across multiple database instances, particularly in environments where distributed database management is actively employed. The remote exploit capability means that attackers need not be physically present within the network perimeter to cause damage, potentially allowing for attacks from external networks. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of database management operations, as compromised integrity can lead to cascading failures in automated database monitoring and management tasks. The distributed nature of the attack means that a single successful exploitation could potentially affect numerous database systems within a network, making the impact exponentially greater than a localized vulnerability.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through Oracle's official security patches, as the vulnerability affects core enterprise management functionality that many organizations depend upon for database operations. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the appropriate Oracle Critical Patch Updates (CPU) that address this specific vulnerability, ensuring that all affected versions of Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control and EM DB Control are updated to patched releases. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, though these measures provide only partial protection given the remote nature of the attack vector. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around distributed database operations. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of Oracle Enterprise Manager suggests that organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected systems and ensure complete remediation across their enterprise database management infrastructure.