CVE-2017-3581 in Automatic Service Request
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Automatic Service Request (ASR) component of Oracle Support Tools (subcomponent: ASR Manager). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 5.7. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Automatic Service Request (ASR) executes to compromise Automatic Service Request (ASR). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Automatic Service Request (ASR). CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3581 resides within Oracle Support Tools' Automatic Service Request (ASR) component, specifically within the ASR Manager subcomponent. This flaw affects versions prior to 5.7 and represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack surface is relatively accessible, requiring only a basic level of system access to initiate the exploitation process. The ASR component serves as a critical interface for automated service requests and system monitoring within Oracle environments, making it a valuable target for malicious actors seeking to establish persistent access or compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and potentially inadequate input validation within the ASR Manager functionality. Attackers with legitimate logon credentials to the infrastructure hosting ASR can leverage this weakness to escalate their privileges and gain full control over the ASR execution environment. The CVSS 3.0 score of 7.8 reflects the high severity impact across all three core security principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This scoring indicates that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise where attackers can read sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially disrupt service availability entirely. The attack vector AV:L (local access) combined with low attack complexity AC:L suggests that the vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, while the low privilege requirement PR:L indicates that even users with basic system access can initiate the attack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the ASR functionality which may be integrated with critical system monitoring and support processes. The compromise of ASR can result in unauthorized access to system logs, configuration data, and potentially sensitive operational information that would normally be protected within the Oracle support infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of organizations relying on Oracle Support Tools, as it creates a persistent backdoor that can be used to maintain access to the compromised systems while evading traditional detection mechanisms. The ASR component's role in automated service requests means that any compromise could lead to further system infiltration through the support channels that the ASR facilitates.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Oracle Support Tools version 5.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, particularly in environments where ASR is deployed. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other Oracle components and third-party applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through insufficient authorization checks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, potentially enabling attackers to establish long-term access to target systems while maintaining operational security through the legitimate ASR infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions specifically designed to detect anomalous behavior in ASR-related processes and network communications that could indicate exploitation attempts.