CVE-2017-3499 in Social Network
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Social Network component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Android Client). The supported version that is affected is prior to 11.1.12.0.0 (17019101). Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTPS to compromise Oracle Social Network. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle Social Network accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.5 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3499 resides within Oracle Social Network component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, specifically affecting the Android Client subcomponent. This weakness represents a significant security gap in Oracle's enterprise social networking platform that was prevalent in versions prior to 11.1.12.0.0, with the patch identifier 17019101. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) classifications, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where social networking platforms contain sensitive organizational data. The affected component represents a critical attack surface within Oracle Fusion Middleware's ecosystem, as social networks often serve as repositories for confidential business communications, employee information, and strategic data exchanges.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Android client implementation, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to exploit this weakness remotely over HTTPS connections. This vulnerability's exploitability rating of "easily exploitable" indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical sophistication or resources to execute successfully. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 7.5 demonstrates high severity with a base score reflecting significant confidentiality impact while maintaining low complexity for exploitation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to critical data within the Oracle Social Network environment, potentially compromising all accessible information without requiring valid credentials or prior access privileges. The vulnerability's network accessibility via HTTPS means that attacks can be launched from external networks without requiring physical presence or insider knowledge of the target environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of all data accessible through the Oracle Social Network platform. Organizations utilizing this component face substantial risk of intellectual property theft, competitive intelligence loss, and potential regulatory violations if sensitive information is exposed. The vulnerability affects enterprise social networking environments where users share confidential business information, strategic plans, and sensitive communications that could be leveraged for competitive advantage or financial gain. Security teams must consider the broader implications of such a vulnerability within their attack surface analysis, as social networking platforms often serve as information hubs that could facilitate additional attacks through credential harvesting or lateral movement within the enterprise network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3499 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to versions 11.1.12.0.0 or later, as provided in Oracle's security advisory 17019101. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected Oracle Fusion Middleware components and consider additional monitoring of HTTPS traffic for anomalous access patterns. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as potential reconnaissance activities that attackers might employ before exploitation. Security administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable Android client component, while conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected Oracle Fusion Middleware installations within their environment. Regular security assessments and continuous monitoring of Oracle security bulletins are essential to maintain protection against similar vulnerabilities that may emerge in the future.