CVE-2017-10156 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the BI Publisher component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: BI Publisher Security). Supported versions that are affected are 11.1.1.7.0, 11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.1.0 and 12.2.1.2.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise BI Publisher. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in BI Publisher, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all BI Publisher accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of BI Publisher accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10156 resides within the BI Publisher component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, specifically within the BI Publisher Security subcomponent. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that affects multiple version streams including 11.1.1.7.0, 11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.1.0, and 12.2.1.2.0, making it a widespread concern across Oracle Fusion Middleware deployments. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this weakness with minimal technical sophistication, particularly when targeting systems accessible via HTTP protocols. The security implications extend beyond just the BI Publisher component itself, as successful exploitation can impact additional Oracle products within the broader Fusion Middleware ecosystem, creating cascading security risks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the BI Publisher security framework, allowing unauthenticated attackers to gain access to sensitive data and system functionalities. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.2 reflects the severity of potential impacts, with high confidentiality impact and low integrity impact, suggesting that while attackers can access critical data, they may also perform unauthorized updates or deletions to some accessible data. The attack vector requires network access via HTTP, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these services are exposed to untrusted networks. The vulnerability's requirement for human interaction indicates that while the initial exploitation may be automated, some form of user involvement or system interaction is necessary to complete the attack successfully, potentially involving social engineering or targeted user actions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10156 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with complete access to all BI Publisher accessible data, including potentially sensitive business intelligence and reporting information. This comprehensive access capability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and demonstrates how such vulnerabilities can enable lateral movement within enterprise networks. The ability to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations creates additional risks for data integrity and system availability, potentially leading to data corruption or manipulation that could significantly impact business operations. Organizations utilizing Oracle Fusion Middleware in production environments face substantial risk of financial loss, regulatory compliance violations, and operational disruption if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle, as recommended in the Oracle Critical Patch Updates and the ATT&CK framework's mitigation recommendations for credential exposure and privilege escalation techniques. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to restrict HTTP access to BI Publisher services, while implementing additional authentication layers and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a critical security flaw places it within the ATT&CK technique category of Credential Access and Privilege Escalation, making it essential for security teams to implement comprehensive monitoring and incident response procedures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other Oracle Fusion Middleware components, as this vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient authentication controls can compromise entire application suites rather than individual applications.