CVE-2015-4740 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the RDBMS Partitioning 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 • 06/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4740 resides within the RDBMS Partitioning 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 component is responsible for managing database partitioning schemes that allow large databases to be divided into smaller, more manageable pieces. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that the exact technical flaw has not been publicly disclosed in detail, but the impact assessment indicates serious consequences for database security. This vulnerability represents a critical weakness in Oracle's database management system architecture and demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex database partitioning mechanisms. The vulnerability affects multiple major versions of Oracle Database Server, indicating it was likely a fundamental design or implementation flaw rather than a simple coding error.
The technical flaw manifests as a security weakness that permits remote authenticated users to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected database systems. This three-pronged impact aligns with the core principles of the CIA triad in information security, where confidentiality refers to protecting data from unauthorized access, integrity ensures data accuracy and completeness, and availability guarantees system accessibility to authorized users. The fact that this vulnerability operates through unknown vectors suggests it may involve complex interactions between multiple system components or exploit subtle implementation details that are not immediately obvious. Such vulnerabilities often arise from insufficient input validation, improper access controls, or flawed privilege management within the partitioning framework. The authentication requirement indicates that attackers must first establish valid credentials before exploiting this weakness, but once authenticated, they can potentially execute attacks that affect the entire database infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4740 extends far beyond simple data compromise, as it affects the fundamental security posture of Oracle database environments. Organizations utilizing affected database versions face potential data breaches where sensitive information could be accessed, modified, or destroyed by authenticated attackers. The availability impact could result in database outages or system unresponsiveness, disrupting business operations and potentially leading to significant financial losses. The integrity compromise means that database records could be altered without detection, potentially corrupting critical business data or financial records. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Oracle databases store sensitive corporate data, customer information, financial records, and other critical assets. The widespread nature of affected versions suggests that many organizations across various industries were potentially exposed to this risk, creating a significant attack surface for cybercriminals and nation-state actors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle Critical Patch Updates that address this vulnerability, as these patches typically contain specific fixes for the underlying security flaws. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit authentication access to database systems, particularly for users who do not require administrative privileges. Monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual database activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Oracle Database versions and prioritize patching efforts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) would likely fall within categories related to insufficient input validation or improper access control, though the specific CWE identifier would depend on the exact technical implementation flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for database users and regularly review access permissions to minimize potential damage from authenticated attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of delaying patch deployment in enterprise database environments.