CVE-2014-2408 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Core RDBMS component in Oracle Database Server 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.3, 11.2.0.4, and 12.1.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors related to the "Grant Any Object Privilege."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2408 resides within Oracle Database Server's Core RDBMS component and affects multiple versions including 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.3, 11.2.0.4, and 12.1.0.1. This issue represents a significant security weakness that enables remote authenticated attackers to compromise both confidentiality and integrity of database resources. The vulnerability specifically relates to the "Grant Any Object Privilege" functionality, which is a critical administrative feature that controls access permissions within Oracle database environments. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the flaw may manifest through multiple pathways, making it particularly challenging to defend against and remediate.
The technical flaw stems from improper validation or handling of privilege escalation mechanisms within the Oracle database server's core components. When users with legitimate authentication credentials attempt to leverage the "Grant Any Object Privilege" functionality, the system fails to properly enforce security boundaries, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data and enabling modification of database objects. This vulnerability operates at the privilege level where authenticated users can exploit weaknesses in the database's access control mechanisms to gain elevated permissions beyond their intended scope. The impact extends beyond simple data access, as the compromise of both confidentiality and integrity suggests that attackers can not only read sensitive information but also modify or corrupt database contents.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on Oracle Database Server for critical data management. The remote nature of the attack means that malicious actors can exploit the flaw from outside the network perimeter, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized data modification, and complete compromise of database integrity. The authenticated requirement does not significantly limit the threat surface, as attackers can often obtain valid credentials through various means including social engineering, credential theft, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and significant financial losses due to potential data exposure and system compromise. The vulnerability's presence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the database server's privilege management architecture that requires immediate attention.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2408 should focus on immediate patching of affected Oracle Database Server versions to address the core privilege escalation vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of database servers to untrusted networks while maintaining strict monitoring of database access logs for suspicious activity. Database administrators should conduct comprehensive privilege reviews to ensure that users have only the minimum necessary permissions and that the "Grant Any Object Privilege" is restricted to absolutely essential administrative accounts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which describes improper privilege management, and represents a critical weakness in the principle of least privilege enforcement. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous privilege usage patterns and potential exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities within the database environment.