CVE-2015-0479 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the XDK and XDB - XML Database component in Oracle Database Server 11.2.0.3, 11.2.0.4, and 12.1.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0479 resides within Oracle Database Server's XML Database component known as XDK and XDB, affecting versions 11.2.0.3, 11.2.0.4, and 12.1.0.1. This represents a critical availability risk that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers, potentially leading to service disruption and system unavailability. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors indicates that the exact technical mechanisms remain undisclosed, though the impact on system availability suggests a significant threat to database operations and business continuity.
The technical flaw manifests within the XML Database functionality where authenticated users can leverage unknown attack vectors to compromise system availability. This vulnerability operates at the database layer where XML data processing occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect the core database operations that many enterprise applications depend upon. The XDK and XDB components handle XML data storage, retrieval, and processing, creating potential attack surfaces that can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions. This aligns with CWE-119 which addresses memory safety issues and improper access to resources, though the specific implementation details remain classified.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to database administrators and security teams who must maintain high availability and reliability of their systems. Attackers with legitimate authentication credentials could potentially disrupt database services, causing cascading effects throughout enterprise applications that depend on database connectivity. The remote aspect of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to exploit the flaw, expanding the potential attack surface. This type of availability compromise can result in significant business disruption, data access limitations, and potential financial losses due to downtime and recovery efforts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Oracle critical patch updates that address this vulnerability, as well as implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the number of authenticated users with access to XML database functionality. Database administrators should monitor for unusual activity patterns and implement robust logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the broader category of availability attacks aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers resource hijacking and system resource exhaustion. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database firewalls and privilege management controls to reduce the potential impact of authenticated attacks and limit the scope of exploitation.