CVE-2017-10166 in Security Service
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Security Service component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: C Oracle SSL API). Supported versions that are affected are FMW: 11.1.1.9.0 and 12.1.3.0.0. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTPS to compromise Oracle Security Service. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Security Service accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 3.7 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10166 resides within the Oracle Security Service component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, specifically within the C Oracle SSL API subcomponent. This security flaw affects Oracle Fusion Middleware versions 11.1.1.9.0 and 12.1.3.0.0, representing a significant concern for organizations utilizing these middleware platforms. The vulnerability manifests as a weakness in the SSL/TLS implementation that governs secure communications within the Oracle Fusion Middleware environment, creating potential attack vectors that could compromise the integrity of security services.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Oracle SSL API implementation, which allows an unauthenticated attacker to exploit network-based communication channels over HTTPS. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 3.7, indicating a low to medium severity classification that reflects the integrity impact potential. The attack vector assessment shows network accessibility with high complexity requirements, meaning that while exploitation is not trivial, it remains achievable without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit suggests that attackers would need specific conditions or knowledge to successfully carry out attacks, though the potential consequences remain significant.
The operational impact of successful exploitation of CVE-2017-10166 could result in unauthorized modification of data within the Oracle Security Service accessible data repositories. This integrity compromise could allow attackers to insert, update, or delete sensitive information, potentially undermining the security posture of systems relying on Oracle Fusion Middleware. The vulnerability's potential to affect data integrity aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a specific instance of weak cryptographic implementation that could enable man-in-the-middle attacks or data corruption scenarios. Organizations utilizing affected Oracle Fusion Middleware versions face risks to their security infrastructure, particularly in environments where these components handle sensitive data or critical security functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10166 should prioritize immediate patch application from Oracle, as the vendor would have released security updates addressing the SSL API implementation weakness. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in SSL/TLS communications. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1071.001, which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications, suggesting that attackers might leverage such weaknesses for persistence or lateral movement within compromised environments. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as SSL certificate pinning, enhanced logging of SSL/TLS events, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The CVSS vector indicates that while the attack requires high complexity, the potential for unauthorized data modification makes this vulnerability worthy of immediate attention and remediation efforts.