CVE-2016-0491 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 integrity and availability via unknown vectors related to Load Testing for Web Apps. NOTE: the previous information is from the January 2016 CPU. Oracle has not commented on third-party claims that the UploadFileAction servlet allows remote authenticated users to upload and execute arbitrary files via an * (asterisk) character in the fileType parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0491 resides within Oracle Application Testing Suite component of Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control, specifically affecting versions 12.4.0.2 and 12.5.0.2. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to compromise system integrity and availability through unspecified attack vectors connected to load testing functionality for web applications. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified in the initial disclosure suggests the complexity and potential breadth of attack surfaces that could be exploited, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such testing suites are commonly deployed.
The technical exploitation mechanism appears to involve the UploadFileAction servlet which processes file uploads through the fileType parameter. Security researchers have identified that authenticated users can leverage an asterisk character in the fileType parameter to bypass intended file validation mechanisms, thereby enabling arbitrary file upload and execution capabilities. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-434 which describes insecure file upload scenarios where applications fail to properly validate or restrict file types, allowing malicious files to be uploaded and executed within the target system. The asterisk character likely serves as a wildcard that circumvents the intended validation logic, creating a path for attackers to upload malicious payloads such as web shells or executable binaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments that rely on Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control for application testing and monitoring activities. The ability to upload and execute arbitrary files remotely compromises the entire testing infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access points, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malicious tools within the network. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers would need valid credentials, but this requirement does not significantly reduce the threat level given that many enterprise environments have numerous legitimate users with appropriate access rights. The impact on availability stems from the potential for denial of service through resource exhaustion or system compromise, while integrity is compromised through unauthorized code execution that can alter system behavior and data.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including TA0002 (Execution) and TA0005 (Defense Evasion) where attackers can leverage the upload capability to execute malicious code and subsequently evade detection mechanisms. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches, implementing network segmentation to isolate the affected components, and conducting thorough access control reviews to minimize the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring for unusual file upload activities and implementing web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The incident underscores the importance of proper input validation and the dangers of relying on simple wildcard characters in security validation logic, which should be replaced with robust, explicit file type checking mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for users with access to testing components and regularly audit access logs to identify potential unauthorized activities related to file upload operations.