CVE-2017-10159 in Communications Policy Management
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Communications Policy Management component of Oracle Communications Applications (subcomponent: Portal, CMP). Supported versions that are affected are 11.5 and 12.x. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Communications Policy Management. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Communications Policy Management, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Communications Policy Management accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Communications Policy Management accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10159 resides within Oracle Communications Policy Management, specifically affecting the Portal and CMP subcomponents. This security flaw impacts versions 11.5 and 12.x of the Oracle Communications Applications suite, representing a significant concern for organizations utilizing these telecommunications management platforms. The vulnerability operates through the HTTP protocol, requiring only network access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 6.1 reflects the moderate severity of this flaw, with scores of 6.1 for confidentiality and integrity impacts, indicating the potential for unauthorized data manipulation and access. The attack vector AV:N indicates network-based exploitation, while AC:L suggests the attack requires low complexity to execute, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Oracle Communications Policy Management portal interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data through HTTP requests, potentially enabling them to modify or delete information within the system. The requirement for human interaction, indicated by UI:R in the CVSS vector, suggests that while the initial exploitation may not require direct user involvement, successful execution often necessitates some form of user engagement or specific conditions that must be met for the attack to fully materialize. This characteristic places additional complexity on the attack scenario, as it may involve social engineering elements or targeted user interactions to complete the exploitation process. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate component, as noted by the S:C classification indicating potential impact to additional products, suggesting cascading effects throughout the broader Oracle Communications ecosystem.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are substantial, particularly for organizations managing telecommunications policy frameworks and network management systems. Successful exploitation could enable unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against data accessible through Oracle Communications Policy Management, potentially compromising the integrity of policy configurations and operational data. Additionally, the vulnerability allows for unauthorized read access to specific subsets of accessible data, which could include sensitive policy information, network configuration details, or user access controls. The confidentiality and integrity impacts create a dual threat where attackers could both steal sensitive information and manipulate critical policy settings that govern network operations. Organizations relying on this platform for managing communication services face risks to both data integrity and service availability, potentially affecting network performance and regulatory compliance requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10159 should focus on implementing comprehensive network security controls and access restrictions. Organizations should immediately apply Oracle's security patches and updates to address the vulnerability in affected versions. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict direct access to the Oracle Communications Policy Management portal, particularly limiting HTTP access to trusted administrative networks. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting user access permissions and implementing role-based access controls to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized attempts to interact with the portal interface. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential attack vectors and ensure that security controls remain effective against evolving threats. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities.