CVE-2015-4780 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-2015-4754, CVE-2015-4764, CVE-2015-4775, CVE-2015-4776, CVE-2015-4777, CVE-2015-4778, 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-2015-4780 resides within Oracle Berkeley DB's Data Store component, representing a significant security flaw that affects 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 unspecified vulnerability presents a critical risk to system security by potentially allowing local attackers to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data stored within the database system. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified means that the exact technical mechanism enabling the attack vector remains undisclosed, creating uncertainty for security professionals attempting to assess and mitigate the risk. Unlike other vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-2583 through CVE-2015-4790 which have been specifically identified and documented, CVE-2015-4780 represents a distinct threat model that requires careful monitoring and protection measures.
The Data Store component in Oracle Berkeley DB serves as a fundamental element for database operations, managing data storage, retrieval, and transaction processing within the system. When compromised, this vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate stored data, access sensitive information, or disrupt database operations entirely. The local user access requirement suggests that attackers must already have some level of system access or privileges to exploit this vulnerability, though the impact remains severe given the critical nature of database confidentiality and integrity. The vulnerability's potential to affect all three core security principles - confidentiality through unauthorized data access, integrity through data manipulation, and availability through service disruption - creates a comprehensive threat that could severely impact enterprise systems relying on Oracle Berkeley DB for data management.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited context, and potentially CWE-20 which deals with improper input validation. The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across multiple system components and could be exploited through various methods including direct system access, privilege escalation, or through other compromised system elements. The lack of specific details regarding the attack vector makes this vulnerability particularly challenging for security teams to defend against, as traditional mitigation strategies may not be directly applicable. Organizations implementing Oracle Berkeley DB should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority concern requiring immediate attention and comprehensive security assessment.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4780 extends beyond immediate data compromise to include potential business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. Security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 would classify this vulnerability as requiring immediate remediation due to its potential for widespread system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of Oracle Berkeley DB indicates a systemic issue that requires coordinated patching efforts across affected systems. Organizations should implement network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts while awaiting official patches from Oracle. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1068 technique for privilege escalation and T1486 for data manipulation, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of access controls, regular vulnerability scanning, and monitoring for unusual database activities. System administrators should consider disabling unnecessary database features, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and establishing robust backup procedures to minimize potential damage. The vulnerability's local access requirement suggests that physical security measures and user access controls become critical defensive elements. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation paths and ensure that defensive measures remain effective against evolving threat landscapes. The remediation process should involve coordinated patching across all affected Oracle Berkeley DB installations while maintaining detailed documentation of the vulnerability's impact and mitigation efforts.