CVE-2016-5506 in Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Identity Manager component in Oracle Fusion Middleware allows local users to affect confidentiality and integrity via vectors related to App Server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5506 resides within Oracle Identity Manager component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, representing a significant security weakness that impacts the confidentiality and integrity of systems. This unspecified vulnerability specifically manifests through vectors associated with Application Server components, indicating that the flaw exists within the server-side processing mechanisms that handle identity management functions. The Oracle Identity Manager serves as a critical component in enterprise environments for managing user identities, access controls, and authentication processes, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on Oracle Fusion Middleware solutions. The local user access vector suggests that exploitation requires an attacker to already have access to the system, though this does not diminish the potential impact on data integrity and confidentiality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient security controls within the Oracle Identity Manager's application server implementation, potentially allowing malicious actors with local system access to manipulate sensitive data or compromise the integrity of identity management processes. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which encompasses security weaknesses related to insufficient access control mechanisms, and may also relate to CWE-264, addressing permissions, privileges, and access controls within software systems. The application server context indicates that the flaw likely exists in how the server handles authentication tokens, session management, or privilege escalation mechanisms that are fundamental to identity management operations. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to user credentials, modify identity records, or manipulate access control policies that govern system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5506 extends beyond simple data compromise, as identity management systems form the backbone of enterprise security infrastructure. Organizations utilizing Oracle Identity Manager for critical access control functions face potential risks including unauthorized privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and system infiltration through compromised identity records. The local access requirement means that attackers must first establish a foothold on the system, but once achieved, they could leverage this vulnerability to undermine the entire identity management framework. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Oracle Fusion Middleware is deployed for large-scale identity management, as the compromised integrity of identity records could lead to widespread access control failures and unauthorized system modifications. The confidentiality aspect poses risks for sensitive user data and authentication information that could be accessed or modified by unauthorized local users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5506 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle Identity Manager installations through official Oracle security updates, as recommended by Oracle's security advisories and the National Vulnerability Database. Organizations should implement strict access controls and privilege management to minimize the risk of local user exploitation, including regular audit of system access permissions and monitoring for unauthorized local access attempts. Security teams should also consider network segmentation and additional monitoring controls around the application server components to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework may align with techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, making defensive measures such as principle of least privilege implementation and regular security assessments particularly important. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of Oracle Fusion Middleware deployments and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in the future.