CVE-2016-0697 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Application Object Library component in Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1.3, 12.2.3, 12.2.4, and 12.2.5 allows local users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0697 resides within the Oracle Application Object Library component of Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.1.3, 12.2.3, 12.2.4, and 12.2.5. This component serves as a foundational library for various business applications within the Oracle E-Business Suite ecosystem, providing shared objects and services that support multiple modules including financials, procurement, and human resources. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors makes this particular flaw particularly concerning as it could potentially encompass a wide range of attack surfaces and exploitation techniques. The vulnerability classification indicates that local users can exploit this weakness to compromise both confidentiality and integrity of the affected system, suggesting that the attack requires local system access but can result in significant data breaches and system corruption.
The technical implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple privilege escalation as it affects the core application object library that underpins numerous business processes. This component typically handles object definitions, shared services, and common application functions that are critical to enterprise operations. The fact that this vulnerability impacts both confidentiality and integrity aligns with common security principles where unauthorized access to system resources can lead to data exposure and modification. The local user requirement suggests that attackers must already have access to the system through legitimate means such as employee credentials or administrative access, but once achieved, the vulnerability could allow for broader system compromise and data manipulation. This type of vulnerability often stems from improper input validation, inadequate access controls, or flawed object handling within the application library.
From an operational perspective, organizations running these vulnerable Oracle E-Business Suite versions face significant risks including potential data breaches, financial loss, and regulatory compliance issues. The affected versions span multiple release lines, indicating this vulnerability has persisted across several iterations of the software, suggesting a fundamental flaw in the object library implementation that was not adequately addressed in patch releases. The impact on business operations could be substantial as the Application Object Library supports critical enterprise functions, and compromise of this component could affect multiple business processes simultaneously. Security teams must consider that local access could be obtained through various means including social engineering, credential theft, or insider threats, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where privileged access is more widely distributed.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Oracle patches and updates, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the E-Business Suite. Security controls should include monitoring for unauthorized local access attempts, implementing strict access controls, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of the application environment. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to insufficient input validation and improper access controls suggests that defensive measures should focus on strengthening input sanitization processes and access control mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit local access privileges and establish comprehensive monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that protect against both external and internal threats.