CVE-2016-0488 in Enterprise Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Application Testing Suite component in Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control 12.4.0.2 and 12.5.0.2 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors related to Load Testing for Web Apps, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0492. NOTE: the previous information is from the January 2016 CPU. Oracle has not commented on third-party claims that this is a directory traversal vulnerability in the isAllowedUrl function in the admin pages, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrator access via directory traversal sequences following a URI entry that does not require authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0488 affects the Oracle Application Testing Suite component within Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control versions 12.4.0.2 and 12.5.0.2. This issue represents a significant security weakness that impacts both confidentiality and integrity of affected systems. The vulnerability specifically relates to Load Testing for Web Applications functionality and operates as a distinct threat vector from CVE-2016-0492, indicating that multiple attack surfaces exist within the same product line. The initial disclosure from January 2016 provided limited technical details, leaving security professionals to analyze the broader implications of this unspecified vulnerability within the enterprise testing framework.
Technical analysis reveals that third-party researchers have identified this vulnerability as a directory traversal issue within the isAllowedUrl function located in the administrative pages of the Oracle Application Testing Suite. This directory traversal flaw manifests when processing URI entries that do not require authentication, creating a pathway for remote attackers to bypass the standard authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and path sanitization within the URL handling function, allowing malicious actors to craft specific URI sequences that traverse directory structures beyond the intended application boundaries. This particular flaw aligns with CWE-22, which classifies directory traversal vulnerabilities as a common weakness in web application security where insufficient validation of user-supplied input allows access to restricted files and directories.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0488 extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it enables full administrative access to the Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control environment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary commands within the application context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such systems often maintain access to critical business data and infrastructure. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the administrative interface, allowing attackers to manipulate test configurations, access sensitive test data, and potentially pivot to other systems within the enterprise network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies focusing on network segmentation and access controls. The most effective immediate remediation involves applying Oracle's official security patches and updates released in their January 2016 Critical Patch Update, which specifically address this directory traversal vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network-based restrictions such as firewall rules that limit access to the Oracle Application Testing Suite administrative interfaces can reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious URI patterns that may indicate directory traversal attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it in the privilege escalation and defense evasion categories, as it allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially remain undetected within the target environment. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the implemented mitigations are effective and to identify any additional vulnerabilities that may exist within the Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control deployment.