CVE-2017-3594 in WebCenter Sites
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebCenter Sites component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Advanced UI). Supported versions that are affected are 11.1.1.8.0, 12.2.1.0.0, 12.2.1.1.0 and 12.2.1.2.0. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle WebCenter Sites. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle WebCenter Sites accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle WebCenter Sites accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.9 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3594 resides within Oracle WebCenter Sites, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that provides advanced user interface capabilities for content management and web publishing. This specific flaw manifests in the Advanced UI subcomponent, which serves as the graphical interface layer for managing web content and user experiences within the Oracle WebCenter Sites framework. The affected versions span across multiple release lines including 11.1.1.8.0, 12.2.1.0.0, 12.2.1.1.0, and 12.2.1.2.0, indicating this weakness has persisted across several iterations of the software architecture. The vulnerability classification as difficult to exploit suggests that while the attack vector requires some technical skill or specific conditions, it remains a significant threat due to the potential for severe data compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation or access control mechanisms within the Advanced UI component, allowing a low-privileged attacker positioned on the network to execute unauthorized operations against the WebCenter Sites instance. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 5.9 reflects the moderate severity level, with a base score that emphasizes the confidentiality impact as high while integrity impact is rated as medium. The attack vector requires network access via HTTP, making it accessible to remote threat actors who can potentially leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the WebCenter Sites environment. The vulnerability permits attackers to access critical data and perform unauthorized updates, inserts, or deletions against accessible data within the system, creating a comprehensive breach of both data confidentiality and integrity principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3594 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to manipulate content management systems that likely serve as primary interfaces for business-critical web applications. Organizations utilizing Oracle WebCenter Sites for content delivery, digital asset management, and web publishing would face significant risk from this vulnerability, as attackers could compromise not only the underlying data but also the integrity of published content and user experiences. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to insufficient input validation or access control mechanisms aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework, particularly those involving credential access and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities. The fact that this affects multiple versions suggests the flaw exists in fundamental architectural components rather than being an isolated issue, making it more challenging to remediate across different deployment environments.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as Oracle typically provides security patches for such vulnerabilities through their regular update cycles. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of WebCenter Sites instances to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure proper authentication mechanisms are in place, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in related components. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date network security controls, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and web application firewalls that can help prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits will help mitigate the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in the broader Oracle Fusion Middleware ecosystem.