CVE-2016-0512 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Human Resources component in Oracle E-Business Suite 11.5.10.2 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors related to Self Service - Common Modules.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0512 resides within the Oracle Human Resources component of the Oracle E-Business Suite version 11.5.10.2, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data. This vulnerability specifically impacts the Self Service - Common Modules functionality, which serves as a crucial interface for users to interact with human resources management systems. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors indicates that the exact technical mechanisms enabling exploitation remain undisclosed, though the impact spans across multiple security dimensions including data confidentiality and system integrity. The affected Oracle E-Business Suite version represents a legacy system where security patches and updates may have been limited or discontinued, exacerbating the risk posed by this vulnerability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors that leverage the Self Service - Common Modules functionality, which typically provides users with access to employee records, payroll information, and other sensitive human resources data. Attackers can potentially manipulate system behaviors to extract confidential information or alter critical data without proper authorization. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation and data manipulation attacks, where unauthorized access to sensitive modules can lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting) as it involves unauthorized access to system components and potential data corruption through web-based interfaces. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that the Self Service modules typically provide direct access to database operations and user management functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0512 extends beyond immediate data breaches to encompass long-term organizational risks including regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage. Organizations utilizing Oracle E-Business Suite 11.5.10.2 may experience unauthorized access to sensitive employee information, payroll records, and personal identification data, potentially leading to identity theft and fraud. The integrity compromise allows attackers to modify critical human resources data, affecting employee records, compensation details, and organizational structures. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and data protection mechanisms within enterprise systems, particularly in environments where regulatory compliance is mandatory for handling sensitive personal and financial information. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK techniques including T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may exploit legitimate user credentials to access the vulnerable modules.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of affected systems, network segmentation to isolate critical human resources modules, and enhanced monitoring of access patterns to the Self Service - Common Modules. Security controls should focus on implementing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive HR data. The vulnerability's exploitation requires careful network monitoring to detect unusual access patterns or data manipulation attempts within the human resources application. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should specifically target the Oracle E-Business Suite components to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in the broader system infrastructure. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions and access control reviews to ensure that only authorized personnel can access critical human resources data through the affected modules. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches and updates to prevent service disruptions while maintaining system integrity and data protection standards.