CVE-2017-3480 in FLEXCUBE Universal Banking
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking component of Oracle Financial Services Applications (subcomponent: Infrastructure). Supported versions that are affected are 11.3.0, 11.4.0 and 12.0.1. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.7 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3480 resides within Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking, a critical component of Oracle Financial Services Applications that serves as the foundation for banking operations. This specific flaw exists within the Infrastructure subcomponent of the FLEXCUBE system, affecting versions 11.3.0, 11.4.0, and 12.0.1. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who have network access through HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such access may be readily available. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 4.7 out of 10, indicating a medium severity impact with particular emphasis on confidentiality implications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the HTTP interface of the FLEXCUBE Universal Banking system. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring any prior authentication credentials, leveraging network-based access to potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the system. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable means that the attack surface is relatively broad and accessible, requiring minimal technical expertise to execute successfully. The fact that human interaction is required from a legitimate user other than the attacker indicates that while the initial exploitation may be automated, successful data access still requires some form of user engagement or interaction within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate FLEXCUBE Universal Banking environment, as noted in the assessment that attacks may significantly impact additional products within the Oracle Financial Services Applications suite. This cascading effect suggests that compromising one component can potentially lead to broader system penetration, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for financial institutions that rely heavily on integrated application ecosystems. The successful compromise can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of accessible data, which according to CWE standards would fall under the category of insufficient authentication or weak authentication mechanisms. The confidentiality impact rating of C:L (Low) indicates that while the data access is unauthorized, the scope of information potentially accessible remains limited compared to more severe vulnerabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to the affected FLEXCUBE components, implementing robust firewall rules to control HTTP access, and ensuring that all systems are updated to patched versions. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely be categorized under credential access or defense evasion techniques, as attackers could potentially use this access to gather intelligence or move laterally within the network. Regular security assessments and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts should be implemented, while administrators should review access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent exploitation. The CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N clearly indicates that network-based attacks are possible with low attack complexity, no prior privileges required, and requires user interaction, making it a significant concern for financial institutions that must maintain strict data protection standards.