CVE-2017-10266 in Fusion Middleware
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Tuxedo component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Core). Supported versions that are affected are 11.1.1, 12.1.1, 12.1.3 and 12.2.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via Jolt to compromise Oracle Tuxedo. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Tuxedo accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10266 affects Oracle Tuxedo, a critical component within Oracle Fusion Middleware that serves as a distributed application platform for building and deploying enterprise applications. This issue resides within the Core subcomponent of Tuxedo and impacts multiple supported versions including 11.1.1, 12.1.1, 12.1.3, and 12.2.2, making it a widespread concern across various Oracle Fusion Middleware deployments. The vulnerability operates at the network level through the Jolt protocol, which is Oracle's proprietary network communication protocol used for inter-process communication within distributed applications. This architectural design creates a significant attack surface since Jolt typically operates over standard network ports and may not always be properly secured or monitored by network security controls.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Tuxedo Jolt implementation, allowing any remote attacker to establish connections without providing valid credentials. This unauthenticated access represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model of the system, as the vulnerability does not require any privileged access or prior knowledge of valid user accounts. The attack vector is classified as network-based with low attack complexity and no required privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers anywhere on the internet. The vulnerability specifically enables unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Tuxedo accessible data, meaning that while not all data may be compromised, sensitive information within the targeted system remains at risk. According to the CVSS 3.0 scoring system, this vulnerability receives a base score of 5.3, which indicates a medium severity impact primarily focused on confidentiality concerns with no impact on integrity or availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure. Organizations utilizing affected Oracle Tuxedo versions face potential compromise of sensitive business data, including transactional information, user credentials, and application-specific data that may be stored or processed within the Tuxedo environment. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation means that automated scanning tools could readily identify and exploit affected systems, potentially leading to widespread data breaches across organizations that have not applied the necessary patches. The lack of user interaction requirements and the ability to perform attacks from outside the organization's network boundary make this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprises with distributed applications or those that expose their Tuxedo services directly to external networks. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and could be leveraged by adversaries following ATT&CK technique T1110 for credential access and T1071 for application layer protocols, demonstrating how this vulnerability could be part of broader attack chains.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle Critical Patch Updates that address this vulnerability, configuring network firewalls to restrict access to Jolt ports, and implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, administrators should review and tighten authentication requirements for all Tuxedo services, disable unnecessary Jolt services, and conduct thorough network segmentation to limit potential attack impact. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current patch management procedures and demonstrates how legacy systems within enterprise environments can present significant security risks when not properly maintained. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for Jolt protocol anomalies and unauthorized access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts against this and similar vulnerabilities.