CVE-2015-4774 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 integrity and availability via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-4779 and CVE-2015-4788.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4774 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle Berkeley DB's Data Store component, affecting multiple version releases including 11.2.5.1.29, 11.2.5.2.42, 11.2.5.3.28, and 12.1.6.0.35. This issue falls under the category of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that can compromise both data integrity and system availability, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on Berkeley DB for critical data storage operations. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it is clearly distinct from related vulnerabilities CVE-2015-4779 and CVE-2015-4788, suggesting a unique attack surface within the Data Store component.
The technical flaw within Oracle Berkeley DB's Data Store component manifests as a local security vulnerability that allows attackers with local system access to manipulate data integrity and disrupt system availability. This type of vulnerability typically leverages weaknesses in the database's internal processing mechanisms or memory management functions that are accessible through local user accounts. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption to potentially enable complete system compromise when exploited by malicious actors who have already gained local access to systems running vulnerable Berkeley DB versions. Such vulnerabilities often relate to improper input validation, memory corruption issues, or flawed access control mechanisms within the database engine's core functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4774 poses serious risks to organizations utilizing Oracle Berkeley DB for their data storage needs, particularly in environments where local privilege escalation is possible. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to modify critical database records, delete important data, or cause system crashes that result in service disruption. The integrity compromise aspect means that data consistency and reliability could be severely affected, potentially leading to financial losses, regulatory compliance issues, and operational downtime. Organizations running multiple instances of these vulnerable versions across their infrastructure face elevated risk, especially in environments where local user accounts are not properly secured or where privilege escalation opportunities exist.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including prompt patching of affected Oracle Berkeley DB installations to version 12.1.6.1.15 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and ensure proper access controls are implemented to limit local user privileges. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue aligns with CWE-269, which addresses improper privilege management in database systems. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under the privilege escalation techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the database engine's internal processes to gain elevated access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts against their Berkeley DB installations, as this vulnerability can be leveraged to maintain persistent access to compromised systems.