CVE-2017-10037 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle BI Publisher component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Web Service API). Supported versions that are affected are 11.1.1.7.0 and 11.1.1.9.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle BI Publisher. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle BI Publisher accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.5 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10037 resides within Oracle BI Publisher, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that serves as a comprehensive reporting and publishing solution. This particular flaw manifests in the Web Service API subcomponent of the BI Publisher functionality, representing a significant security weakness that affects specifically versions 11.1.1.7.0 and 11.1.1.9.0 of the software. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage it without requiring specialized skills or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such systems often handle sensitive business intelligence data and corporate reports.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Web Service API interface, allowing unauthenticated attackers to establish network connections via HTTP protocols and subsequently compromise the Oracle BI Publisher system. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the service's API endpoints that should normally require proper authentication before granting access to reporting functionalities and underlying data repositories. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 7.5 reflects its high impact on confidentiality, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical data and potentially achieve complete access to all data accessible through the BI Publisher system. The attack vector requires only network access via HTTP, making it particularly accessible to threat actors who may have basic network connectivity to the target environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation can result in comprehensive access to business intelligence data, financial reports, operational metrics, and other sensitive information that organizations rely upon for strategic decision-making. Organizations utilizing Oracle BI Publisher for mission-critical reporting may face severe consequences including intellectual property theft, competitive disadvantage, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses. The vulnerability's ability to provide complete access to all accessible data through the BI Publisher system creates a substantial risk for enterprises that store sensitive corporate information within their reporting environments. This access could potentially enable attackers to manipulate report data, extract proprietary information, or use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle Critical Patch Update (CPU) that addresses this vulnerability, as well as implementing network-level controls such as firewall rules that restrict access to the BI Publisher Web Service API endpoints. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling unnecessary web service functionality when not required, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments of their BI Publisher installations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework category of Initial Access through Web Services, where attackers establish footholds by exploiting poorly secured API endpoints. Regular monitoring of system logs and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining up-to-date patch management procedures ensures continued protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.