CVE-2016-5555 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the OJVM component in Oracle Database Server 11.2.0.4 and 12.1.0.2 allows remote administrators to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5555 resides within the Oracle Java Virtual Machine component of Oracle Database Server versions 11.2.0.4 and 12.1.0.2, representing a critical security flaw that affects the database's Java execution environment. This issue falls under the broader category of database security vulnerabilities and specifically targets the Oracle JVM which enables the execution of java-based applications and stored procedures within the database context. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism enabling the attack vector was not fully disclosed in the initial advisory, making it particularly concerning for security professionals who must assess risk without complete technical details.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows remote administrators to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected database systems through unknown attack vectors. This suggests that the flaw operates at a fundamental level within the database's Java execution environment, potentially enabling attackers to execute malicious code or manipulate database processes without requiring physical access to the system. The OJVM component is particularly sensitive because it bridges the gap between database operations and java application execution, creating multiple potential entry points for attackers. This vulnerability likely resides in the way the JVM processes java code within the database environment, potentially through improper input validation or memory management flaws that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to database resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5555 extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it compromises the fundamental security triad of information security. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive database information, modify critical data structures, or disrupt database services entirely through availability attacks. The fact that this affects database administrators specifically means that legitimate users with administrative privileges could be compromised, leading to unauthorized access to database resources, potential data exfiltration, and system-wide service disruption. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur from outside the corporate network, significantly expanding the potential attack surface and making traditional network perimeter defenses insufficient to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5555 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle, as this represents a critical vulnerability requiring urgent attention. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to database servers, particularly disabling unnecessary java stored procedure execution capabilities where possible. The vulnerability's classification as a database security issue aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and potentially CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within a Single Resource) as it relates to memory management and resource access control within the database environment. Security teams should also monitor for suspicious database activity and implement database activity monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, following the ATT&CK framework's database security tactics, organizations should focus on preventing privilege escalation and maintaining defensive measures against remote code execution attacks that target database server components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing database applications and stored procedures.