CVE-2015-4923 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the XML Developer s Kit for C component in Oracle Database Server 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.1, and 12.1.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4923 resides within Oracle Database Server's XML Developer Kit for C component, affecting versions 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.1, and 12.1.0.2. This designation falls under the category of availability impact, indicating that malicious actors can potentially disrupt service availability rather than directly accessing data or executing arbitrary code. The XML Developer Kit for C serves as a critical interface for developers to work with XML data within Oracle Database environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for database administrators and security professionals responsible for maintaining system reliability and uptime.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves unknown attack vectors that allow authenticated remote users to compromise system availability. While specific technical details remain unspecified in the CVE description, the classification suggests a flaw in how the XML Developer Kit processes certain inputs or handles concurrent operations. This type of vulnerability typically manifests through resource exhaustion, denial of service conditions, or improper error handling mechanisms that can be exploited by attackers who have already established authentication credentials within the database environment. The authenticated requirement indicates that attackers must first gain valid user credentials or administrative access before they can exploit this particular weakness.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect critical business operations that depend on database availability. Organizations utilizing affected Oracle Database versions may experience unexpected downtime, particularly during peak usage periods when database resources are most constrained. The availability compromise could lead to cascading effects throughout enterprise applications that rely on database connectivity, potentially affecting customer-facing services, transaction processing systems, and backend business operations. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape, especially when evaluating the risk of insider threats or compromised accounts within their database environments.
The vulnerability aligns with common patterns found in availability-focused attacks and can be categorized under CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or "Resource Exhaustion" conditions. This classification indicates that the underlying flaw likely involves improper handling of system resources such as memory, CPU cycles, or concurrent connection limits. Additionally, the attack pattern may relate to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the "Denial of Service" tactic, where adversaries target system resources to prevent legitimate users from accessing services. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also maintaining current patch management procedures to address the underlying vulnerability. The remediation process typically involves applying Oracle's security patches or updates that specifically address the XML Developer Kit for C component, ensuring that all affected database instances receive the necessary fixes to prevent exploitation.