CVE-2015-4783 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-2015-4780, CVE-2015-4781, CVE-2015-4782, CVE-2015-4784, CVE-2015-4785, CVE-2015-4786, CVE-2015-4787, CVE-2015-4789, and CVE-2015-4790.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4783 resides 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 unspecified flaw represents a significant security concern as it operates at the core database storage layer, potentially compromising fundamental security tenets of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability's classification as local user affecting vector indicates that exploitation requires system-level access, yet the implications extend far beyond simple privilege escalation due to the critical nature of database operations. The Data Store component serves as the foundational storage mechanism for Berkeley DB applications, making any weakness in this area particularly dangerous as it could undermine the security posture of entire applications relying on this database technology.
The technical nature of this vulnerability remains unspecified in the public description, which is common for certain classes of database security flaws that may involve memory corruption, improper access controls, or race conditions within the storage engine. Such unspecified vulnerabilities often represent complex interactions between database operations and system resources that can manifest in various ways including buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or improper resource management. The fact that this vulnerability differs from numerous other CVEs in the same timeframe suggests it operates through a unique exploitation vector or affects different subsystems within the database architecture. The absence of specific technical details in the CVE description indicates that this may have been a complex issue requiring significant analysis to understand the precise mechanism by which the vulnerability operates, potentially involving interactions between multiple database subsystems or unusual edge cases in data processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4783 extends beyond simple data compromise as it affects all three pillars of information security simultaneously. Confidentiality breaches could result in unauthorized data access and exposure of sensitive information stored within the database, while integrity compromises might allow attackers to modify stored data or manipulate database operations. Availability impacts could manifest as denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate database access or cause system instability. The local user requirement means that attackers must already have system-level access, but this represents a critical escalation path from a system compromise to database-level control. This vulnerability would be particularly concerning for applications where Berkeley DB serves as a critical backend component, potentially affecting financial systems, healthcare databases, or other mission-critical applications where data integrity and availability are paramount. Organizations using affected versions should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority concern due to its potential to undermine the entire database security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4783 should focus on immediate version updates to patched releases of Oracle Berkeley DB, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions within the 11.2 and 12.1 release lines. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized local access attempts and conduct thorough security audits of systems running affected database versions. The vulnerability's local user nature suggests that traditional network-based security controls may not be sufficient, requiring enhanced local security measures including proper access controls, privilege management, and system hardening. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with database corruption or unauthorized data manipulation. Additionally, the vulnerability's unspecified nature indicates that defensive measures should include regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation pathways. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability likely relates to CWE-119 Improper Access Control or CWE-200 Information Exposure, while ATT&CK framework considerations would involve techniques such as privilege escalation and credential access through local system compromise. The vulnerability's impact on multiple versions suggests that organizations should implement a comprehensive patch management strategy to ensure all affected systems receive timely updates.