CVE-2017-3597 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. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle WebCenter Sites. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle WebCenter Sites accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.7 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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-2017-3597 resides within Oracle WebCenter Sites, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that provides advanced user interface capabilities for content management and digital asset handling. This particular weakness affects multiple versions including 11.1.1.8.0, 12.2.1.0.0, 12.2.1.1.0, and 12.2.1.2.0, representing a significant attack surface across Oracle's Fusion Middleware portfolio. The vulnerability is categorized as easily exploitable, indicating that attackers can leverage it without requiring specialized skills or extensive resources, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such systems are often exposed to external networks.
The technical flaw manifests through the Advanced UI subcomponent of Oracle WebCenter Sites, where insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms allow a low privileged attacker to compromise the system. The vulnerability requires network access via HTTP protocols, meaning that attackers can potentially exploit it from remote locations without requiring physical access to the network infrastructure. This characteristic places the system at risk from external threat actors who may scan for vulnerable instances of Oracle WebCenter Sites in public or semi-public environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle WebCenter Sites accessible data. This represents a high-severity concern for organizations that rely on WebCenter Sites for content management, digital asset storage, and collaborative workflows. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 5.7 indicates a medium severity level, but the confidentiality impact rating of high suggests that the potential data exposure could be catastrophic for organizations handling sensitive information. The vulnerability requires human interaction from users other than the attacker, indicating that social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns might be necessary to complete the exploitation process, though the initial access vector remains network-based.
Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability, while also ensuring that all systems are updated to the latest patched versions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving initial access through web application exploitation and privilege escalation. Security teams should monitor for suspicious network activity and implement web application firewalls to protect against exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the broader Oracle Fusion Middleware ecosystem, as this vulnerability demonstrates the potential for unauthorized data access in content management systems.
The CVSS vector analysis reveals that the attack requires low complexity (AC:L) and low privileges (PR:L), yet the requirement for human interaction (UI:R) suggests that user awareness training and security awareness programs become critical defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing robust monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts and maintain detailed audit trails for forensic analysis. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate data compromise to potentially affect business continuity, regulatory compliance, and corporate reputation, particularly in industries subject to strict data protection requirements such as healthcare, financial services, or government sectors.