CVE-2016-0456 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Application Mgmt Pack for E-Business Suite component in Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1 and 12.2 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality via vectors related to REST Framework, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0457. NOTE: the previous information is from the January 2016 CPU. Oracle has not commented on third-party claims that this issue is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability, which allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files, cause a denial of service, conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks, or conduct SMB Relay attacks via a crafted DTD in an XML request to OA_HTML/copxmllcmservicecontroller.js.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0456 resides within the Application Mgmt Pack for E-Business Suite component of Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.1 and 12.2, representing a significant security weakness that enables remote attackers to compromise data confidentiality. This vulnerability specifically impacts the REST Framework functionality and operates independently from CVE-2016-0457, indicating a distinct attack surface within the same software ecosystem. The issue manifests through unspecified vectors that leverage the REST Framework component, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data access and system compromise.
Technical analysis reveals this vulnerability likely stems from improper handling of XML data processing within the OA_HTML/copxmllcmservicecontroller.js endpoint, which is consistent with the third-party claims categorizing it as an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability. The XXE vulnerability class (cwe-611) allows attackers to manipulate XML parsers to access internal system resources through maliciously crafted DTD references. When an attacker submits a specially crafted XML request containing a malicious DTD, the vulnerable system processes these external references, potentially enabling arbitrary file reads, denial of service conditions, server-side request forgery attacks, or even SMB Relay attacks. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under initial access and privilege escalation techniques, particularly leveraging XML processing weaknesses.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0456 extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it provides attackers with multiple attack vectors that can be chained together for more sophisticated compromises. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations running Oracle E-Business Suite environments. The potential for arbitrary file reading creates opportunities for attackers to access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, and other critical system information. Additionally, the denial of service capabilities can disrupt business operations, while server-side request forgery attacks can enable attackers to pivot through internal networks and target other systems that may not be directly exposed to the internet. Organizations using Oracle E-Business Suite in production environments face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in scenarios where the application is exposed to untrusted networks or users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0456 should focus on immediate patching of affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions, as Oracle has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the OA_HTML/copxmllcmservicecontroller.js endpoint and other vulnerable components. Input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent malicious XML processing, including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual XML processing patterns and potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential XXE vulnerabilities in their Oracle E-Business Suite deployments and related systems, as the vulnerability landscape for XML processing remains particularly challenging in enterprise environments. The implementation of web application firewalls and security configuration reviews can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.