CVE-2017-3473 in FLEXCUBE Private Banking
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle FLEXCUBE Private Banking component of Oracle Financial Services Applications (subcomponent: Miscellaneous). Supported versions that are affected are 2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.2.0.1 and 12.0.1. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle FLEXCUBE Private Banking. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle FLEXCUBE Private Banking accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3473 resides within Oracle FLEXCUBE Private Banking, a critical component of Oracle Financial Services Applications that serves as a foundational platform for private banking operations. This security flaw specifically affects the Miscellaneous subcomponent and impacts versions 2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.2.0.1, and 12.0.1, representing a significant exposure across multiple release streams of the financial services platform. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage relatively straightforward techniques to compromise the system, making it particularly concerning for financial institutions that rely on this platform for sensitive customer banking activities. The CVSS 3.0 score of 4.3 reflects a moderate severity level, primarily due to the confidentiality impact, though the low privilege requirement and network accessibility create substantial risk for unauthorized data access.
The technical flaw manifests as a weakness in the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the FLEXCUBE Private Banking component, specifically within the Miscellaneous subcomponent that handles various operational functions. Attackers with low privilege levels and network access via HTTP can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the system. This represents a classic privilege escalation issue where insufficient access controls allow unauthorized users to bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that it affects the core private banking functionality where customer financial data, transaction records, and sensitive banking information would be stored and processed. The attack vector through HTTP indicates that the vulnerability could be exploited from external networks without requiring physical access or elevated privileges, making it accessible to a broad range of potential threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of private banking operations that financial institutions depend upon for customer trust and regulatory compliance. Organizations using affected versions of Oracle FLEXCUBE Private Banking face risks of unauthorized data access that could include customer account information, transaction histories, personal financial details, and other sensitive banking records. The unauthorized read access capability means that attackers could systematically harvest valuable financial data without leaving obvious traces, potentially enabling fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality pillar of the CIA triad and could result in regulatory penalties under financial services compliance frameworks such as SOX, PCI DSS, and various banking regulatory requirements that mandate protection of customer data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3473 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle FLEXCUBE Private Banking installations to the latest supported versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected systems, particularly restricting HTTP access to authorized personnel only through proper firewall rules and access control lists. Additional protective measures include implementing robust monitoring and logging of access attempts to the affected components, deploying intrusion detection systems to identify suspicious network activity, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network access controls that restrict HTTP access to specific IP addresses or ranges, and establish comprehensive incident response procedures that include rapid identification and containment of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and could be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and data extraction through network-based attacks, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader threat landscape.