CVE-2016-5523 in Agile PLM
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle Agile PLM component in Oracle Supply Chain Products Suite 9.3.4 and 9.3.5 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to AutoVue Java Applet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5523 resides within the Oracle Agile PLM component of Oracle Supply Chain Products Suite version 9.3.4 and 9.3.5, representing a critical security weakness that enables remote authenticated attackers to compromise system integrity and availability. This flaw specifically manifests through the AutoVue Java Applet functionality, which serves as a component for viewing and managing product lifecycle data within the supply chain environment. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it clearly involves a security gap that can be exploited by authenticated users who possess valid credentials within the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the AutoVue Java Applet interface, which typically provides users with the ability to view and manipulate product design and engineering data. When a user interacts with this applet, the underlying Java runtime environment processes the requests and potentially exposes the system to attack vectors that can compromise data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This represents a significant concern as the attack surface extends beyond simple data access to include potential system compromise and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-255 Credential Management Weaknesses and potentially CWE-94 Code Injection, as Java applets often execute code within the browser environment and may be susceptible to improper input validation or privilege escalation.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential business disruption and competitive disadvantages. Organizations utilizing Oracle Agile PLM for product lifecycle management face significant risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as it could allow attackers to access sensitive product designs, manufacturing specifications, and supply chain data that could be used for competitive intelligence or industrial espionage. The availability impact suggests that attackers could potentially disrupt business operations through denial of service conditions, making critical product data inaccessible to authorized personnel. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and other industries that rely heavily on product lifecycle management systems and may be subject to regulatory compliance requirements under standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.
The attack vector for this vulnerability requires an authenticated user, meaning that the threat actor must first obtain valid credentials to the system, potentially through credential theft, social engineering, or other initial compromise techniques. Once authenticated, the attacker can leverage the AutoVue Java Applet to execute malicious code or manipulate system resources. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, where adversaries use legitimate credentials to gain access to systems, followed by T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation or T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service to impact system availability. Organizations should implement layered security controls including network segmentation, privileged access management, and regular security assessments to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of timely patch management and security monitoring, particularly for critical business applications that handle sensitive product information and manufacturing data.