CVE-2015-0457 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java VM component in Oracle Database Server 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.3, 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.1, and 12.1.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0457 resides within the Java Virtual Machine component of Oracle Database Server versions 11.1.0.7, 11.2.0.3, 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.1, and 12.1.0.2. This unspecified weakness represents a critical security flaw that affects the core database infrastructure where Java bytecode execution occurs. The vulnerability impacts multiple major versions of Oracle Database Server, indicating a widespread exposure across different release branches that could affect organizations with diverse database deployment configurations. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the flaw may manifest through various attack pathways, making comprehensive threat assessment and mitigation planning more complex.
The technical flaw within the Java VM component creates a potential attack surface that allows authenticated remote adversaries to compromise the fundamental security properties of the database system. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of database resources, which are the core pillars of information security as defined by the CIA triad. The ability to manipulate these three security properties simultaneously indicates a sophisticated weakness that could enable attackers to not only access sensitive data but also modify database contents and potentially disrupt database operations entirely. The authenticated requirement suggests that attackers must first establish valid credentials, but this does not significantly limit the threat scope given that database access credentials are often compromised through various attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0457 extends beyond simple data breaches, as it could enable complete system compromise through unauthorized access to database functionalities. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially execute arbitrary code within the database environment, escalate privileges, and gain deeper access to underlying system resources. The vulnerability's presence across multiple versions indicates that organizations maintaining older database releases face significant risk exposure, as patching may not be immediate or comprehensive across all deployed instances. This scenario creates a persistent threat landscape where database administrators must maintain heightened vigilance and implement layered security controls to protect against potential exploitation.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patching of affected Oracle Database Server versions to address the Java VM vulnerability. The remediation process should prioritize the most critical database instances and ensure that all versions are updated to patched releases that resolve the unspecified vulnerability vectors. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the attack surface and reduce the potential impact of credential compromise. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous database activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack framework, particularly those involving database server compromise and privilege escalation through JVM vulnerabilities. The weakness also corresponds to potential CWE classifications related to insufficient input validation and improper access control within database execution environments, requiring careful consideration of both defensive and detection strategies.