CVE-2016-0694 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-2016-0689, CVE-2016-0692, and CVE-2016-3418.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0694 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle Berkeley DB's DataStore component, affecting multiple version releases 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 unspecified weakness resides within the database's core storage management system, creating potential attack surfaces that could compromise the fundamental security properties of data integrity, confidentiality, and system availability. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it operates at a level that impacts critical system functions rather than merely application-level behaviors. The fact that this vulnerability differs from other related issues such as CVE-2016-0682, CVE-2016-0689, CVE-2016-0692, and CVE-2016-3418 demonstrates that Oracle Berkeley DB contains multiple distinct security weaknesses that require individual assessment and remediation approaches. These vulnerabilities specifically target local users, meaning attackers must already have access to the system to exploit these flaws, though the impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to affect core database operations and data protection mechanisms.
The technical implications of CVE-2016-0694 stem from its location within the DataStore component, which serves as the foundational layer for database storage and retrieval operations. This component typically handles critical functions including data serialization, storage management, and transaction processing, making it a prime target for attacks that could disrupt normal database operations. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests it may involve memory corruption, improper access controls, or flaws in the database's internal data structures that could lead to unauthorized data manipulation or exposure. Such weaknesses in database storage components are particularly dangerous because they can potentially allow attackers to modify or delete critical data while maintaining system availability, thus affecting all three pillars of information security. The vulnerability's presence across multiple minor versions indicates a systemic issue within the DataStore implementation rather than an isolated bug, suggesting that the flaw may be inherent to the architectural approach used in these database versions. The local user requirement implies that exploitation likely involves leveraging existing system access through legitimate user accounts or processes, making detection more challenging as attacks appear to originate from trusted sources.
From an operational impact perspective, CVE-2016-0694 poses substantial risks to organizations relying on Oracle Berkeley DB for critical data storage and management functions. The potential to affect confidentiality means that sensitive data could be exposed to unauthorized parties, potentially leading to data breaches and regulatory compliance violations. Integrity compromise could result in data corruption or manipulation that might go undetected for extended periods, undermining trust in database operations and potentially causing business disruption. Availability impacts threaten system stability and can lead to complete database service outages, which can be catastrophic for businesses depending on continuous data access. The vulnerability's scope across multiple versions suggests that organizations using any of the affected releases face similar risks, requiring comprehensive assessment of their database environments and potentially necessitating immediate patching or mitigation strategies. This vulnerability particularly impacts industries handling sensitive information such as financial services, healthcare, and government sectors where database security is paramount. The operational disruption potential extends beyond simple data loss to include compliance violations, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage that could result from successful exploitation of these database weaknesses.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address CVE-2016-0694, beginning with comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Oracle Berkeley DB versions. The recommended approach includes applying official patches from Oracle as soon as they become available, while maintaining detailed monitoring of database access logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. System hardening measures should focus on reducing attack surface by implementing strict access controls and limiting local user privileges where possible. Network segmentation and monitoring of database communications can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct regular audits of database configurations and implement intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for DataStore component anomalies. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses "Improper Access to Resources via Upper Layer" and reflects the type of privilege escalation or resource manipulation that could occur through database storage component flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability corresponds to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within systems or maintain persistent access through compromised database services. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect unusual data access patterns or modification attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process requires careful planning to avoid disrupting existing database operations while ensuring comprehensive protection against this and similar storage component vulnerabilities.