CVE-2017-3553 in Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Identity Manager component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Rules Engine). The supported version that is affected is 11.1.2.3.0. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Identity Manager. While the vulnerability is in Oracle Identity Manager, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle Identity Manager. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 9.9 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3553 resides within Oracle Identity Manager's Rules Engine component, which is part of the broader Oracle Fusion Middleware suite. This particular flaw affects version 11.1.2.3.0 and represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited by adversaries with minimal privileges. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require only basic network access through HTTP protocols to initiate successful attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such access might be prevalent. The CVSS 3.0 score of 9.9 reflects the severity of impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H signaling network-based exploitation with low attack complexity, limited privileges required, and potentially catastrophic consequences across all security dimensions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from weaknesses within the Oracle Identity Manager's processing of rules engine components, specifically allowing unauthorized access to critical system functions that should otherwise be restricted to privileged users. The rules engine serves as a core component for managing access controls and identity management policies, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized system control. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate Oracle Identity Manager environment, as successful exploitation can lead to cascading effects that compromise additional Oracle products within the same infrastructure, creating a broader attack surface that security teams must consider when assessing risk. This interconnectedness aligns with ATT&CK framework concepts related to privilege escalation and lateral movement, where initial access can be leveraged to expand control across multiple system components.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-3553 are severe, as it can result in complete system compromise of Oracle Identity Manager, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate access controls, modify user permissions, and gain unauthorized access to protected resources. Organizations relying on Oracle Fusion Middleware for identity management face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized system modifications, particularly since the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring extensive technical knowledge or privileged access initially. The high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts mean that successful exploitation could lead to complete system takeover, allowing attackers to modify or delete critical identity management data while potentially remaining undetected within the system. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques for privilege escalation and persistence through compromised identity management systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches, restricting network access to Oracle Identity Manager components, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, as the vulnerability's low privilege requirements and network-based exploitation make it particularly attractive to adversaries seeking to establish persistent access within enterprise environments.