CVE-2016-0689 in Berkeley DB
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the DataStore component in Oracle Berkeley DB 11.2.5.0.32, 11.2.5.1.29, 11.2.5.2.42, 11.2.5.3.28, 12.1.6.0.35, and 12.1.6.1.26 allows local users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0682, CVE-2016-0692, CVE-2016-0694, and CVE-2016-3418.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0689 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle Berkeley DB's DataStore component, affecting multiple versions including 11.2.5.0.32 through 11.2.5.3.28 and 12.1.6.0.35 through 12.1.6.1.26. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability types that can potentially compromise the fundamental security properties of data systems. The vulnerability enables local users to manipulate system confidentiality, integrity, and availability through unknown attack vectors, making it particularly concerning as it operates within the database's core storage mechanisms. The affected DataStore component serves as a critical foundation for data persistence and retrieval operations, meaning any compromise directly impacts the reliability and security of database operations. Unlike other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-0682, CVE-2016-0692, CVE-2016-0694, and CVE-2016-3418, this flaw presents distinct attack surfaces that require separate mitigation approaches. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability may involve multiple potential pathways for exploitation, including but not limited to memory corruption issues, improper access controls, or race conditions within the DataStore implementation. This type of vulnerability typically arises from complex interactions within database storage engines where multiple system components must coordinate properly to maintain security boundaries and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2016-0689 likely involves local privilege escalation or manipulation of database storage structures that could lead to unauthorized data access or modification. The DataStore component's role in managing database transactions, caching, and persistent storage makes it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise system integrity. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to read sensitive data, modify database contents, or disrupt service availability through various mechanisms that could include buffer overflows, improper input validation, or flawed privilege management within the storage subsystem. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can affect the entire operational integrity of database systems relying on Oracle Berkeley DB. The unspecified vectors indicate that attackers might exploit different aspects of the DataStore implementation, potentially including file system interactions, memory management issues, or concurrent access problems that could result in denial of service conditions. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern database systems where a single component failure can cascade into broader system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0689 extends to organizations that depend on Oracle Berkeley DB for critical data storage operations, potentially affecting data confidentiality, integrity, and availability across enterprise environments. Local users with access to systems running affected versions could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to database contents, modify critical information, or cause system disruptions that affect business operations. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams suggests that organizations maintaining legacy systems or those that have not yet updated to patched releases remain at risk. Security teams must consider the potential for this vulnerability to be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors, as local access combined with this flaw could enable more sophisticated compromise scenarios. The impact on system availability is particularly concerning as database disruptions can cascade through entire application ecosystems, affecting multiple services that depend on consistent database access. Organizations may experience data loss, service interruptions, or unauthorized data modifications that could have significant financial and operational consequences. The vulnerability's local nature means that exploitation requires physical or network access to target systems, but this access could be gained through various means including compromised user accounts, insider threats, or misconfigured access controls that allow unauthorized local system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0689 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle Berkeley DB versions, with organizations implementing comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar issues across their infrastructure. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of the database software and prioritize patch deployment according to risk levels and business impact. The implementation of network segmentation and access controls can help limit local access privileges, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify unusual database access patterns or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify any remaining vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification under potential CWE categories related to data storage and database security highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms. Security teams should also review and update their incident response procedures to ensure rapid identification and containment of potential exploitation attempts. Compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the ATT&CK framework for database security can provide structured approaches to defending against these types of vulnerabilities. Organizations should maintain detailed documentation of their remediation efforts and continuously monitor for similar vulnerabilities that may affect their database infrastructure. The vulnerability's nature as a local privilege escalation issue emphasizes the need for principle of least privilege implementations and regular access reviews to minimize potential attack vectors.