CVE-2017-3556 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Object Library component of Oracle E-Business Suite (subcomponent: File Management). Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.3, 12.2.3, 12.2.4, 12.2.5 and 12.2.6. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Application Object Library. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Application Object Library accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 3.7 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3556 resides within the Oracle Application Object Library component of Oracle E-Business Suite, specifically within the File Management subcomponent. This weakness affects multiple version ranges including 12.1.3, 12.2.3, 12.2.4, 12.2.5, and 12.2.6, representing a significant attack surface across the E-Business Suite ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector is accessible, it requires specific conditions and knowledge to successfully compromise the target system. The CVSS 3.0 score of 3.7 reflects a low to medium severity impact with particular emphasis on confidentiality implications.
The technical flaw manifests through an insufficient access control mechanism within the file management functionality of Oracle Application Object Library. An unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the affected component. This represents a classic privilege escalation scenario where the attacker bypasses normal authentication requirements to access restricted information. The vulnerability's impact is limited to read access rather than modification or deletion capabilities, but the confidentiality breach can still result in significant data exposure. The attack vector requires network connectivity and does not necessitate prior authentication, making it particularly concerning for systems with exposed web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to information disclosure that may reveal sensitive business processes, user data, or system configurations. Organizations running affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions face potential exposure of intellectual property, customer information, or proprietary business data that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 284 (Improper Access Control) aligns with the observed behavior of insufficient authorization checks within the file management subsystem. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' technique where attackers seek to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the affected components to untrusted networks. Monitoring for unusual HTTP traffic patterns and unauthorized access attempts should be implemented as part of the defensive posture. The vulnerability's low complexity and network-based attack vector make it particularly attractive to automated scanning tools, increasing the probability of exploitation. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary file management functionalities and implementing additional authentication layers for sensitive data access. The CVSS vector indicates that while the vulnerability requires high attack complexity, the potential for unauthorized data access makes it a critical concern for enterprise security teams managing Oracle E-Business Suite environments.