CVE-2015-4754 in Berkeley DB
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Data Store component in Oracle Berkeley DB 11.2.5.1.29, 11.2.5.2.42, 11.2.5.3.28, and 12.1.6.0.35 allows local users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-2583, CVE-2015-2624, CVE-2015-2626, CVE-2015-2640, CVE-2015-2654, CVE-2015-2656, CVE-2015-4764, CVE-2015-4775, CVE-2015-4776, CVE-2015-4777, CVE-2015-4778, CVE-2015-4780, CVE-2015-4781, CVE-2015-4782, CVE-2015-4783, CVE-2015-4784, CVE-2015-4785, CVE-2015-4786, CVE-2015-4787, CVE-2015-4789, and CVE-2015-4790.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4754 affects Oracle Berkeley DB Data Store component across multiple versions including 11.2.5.1.29, 11.2.5.2.42, 11.2.5.3.28, and 12.1.6.0.35. This represents a significant security flaw within one of the most widely deployed embedded database solutions in enterprise environments, where the Data Store component serves as the foundational storage layer for applications requiring high-performance data management. The vulnerability falls under the category of unspecified nature, indicating that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, which is common in cases where vendors classify vulnerabilities as critical without revealing implementation details to prevent exploitation.
The impact of this vulnerability extends across all three fundamental principles of information security confidentiality, integrity, and availability as noted in the CVE description. This triad compromise suggests that local attackers with access to the system can potentially manipulate stored data, gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, or disrupt system operations entirely. The unspecified vectors indicate that the attack surface may involve multiple pathways including memory corruption, privilege escalation, or data manipulation techniques that could be leveraged by malicious actors within the local environment.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability's classification as affecting local users indicates that exploitation requires physical access or execution privileges on the target system, but does not require network connectivity or remote attack capabilities. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the context of privilege escalation attacks or local code execution scenarios where attackers can leverage existing access to cause broader system compromise. The fact that this vulnerability is distinct from numerous other CVEs in the same year suggests it operates through different technical mechanisms or affects different system components than previously identified flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4754 within enterprise environments cannot be understated, as Oracle Berkeley DB is extensively used in financial services, healthcare applications, and other mission-critical systems where data integrity and availability are paramount. Organizations using these database versions face potential data breaches, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations if the vulnerability is exploited. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that security teams must implement defensive measures without full knowledge of the attack vectors, requiring comprehensive monitoring and proactive security measures.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability with heightened awareness given its potential for affecting core data storage functionality. The vulnerability's classification as local attack vector aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack framework, where adversaries typically exploit local privilege escalation or code execution vulnerabilities to gain deeper system access. Organizations should implement layered security controls including access restriction, privilege monitoring, and regular security assessments to mitigate potential exploitation risks. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current database versions and implementing robust patch management processes as recommended by industry standards including those outlined in the CWE database and MITRE ATT&CK framework for enterprise security defense.
The presence of this vulnerability in multiple versions of Oracle Berkeley DB suggests that it may be a fundamental design flaw or implementation weakness within the Data Store component rather than a simple configuration issue. This characteristic requires careful consideration during system hardening activities and may necessitate architectural changes to isolate database components or implement additional security controls. Organizations should conduct thorough risk assessments to determine the attack surface and potential impact of exploitation, particularly in environments where local access controls may be insufficient or where insider threats exist. The vulnerability's designation as distinct from other related CVEs indicates that it represents a unique threat vector that requires specific attention and mitigation strategies beyond standard security practices.