CVE-2017-3598 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 read access to a subset of Oracle WebCenter Sites accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 3.1 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3598 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 interactions. 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 a widespread impact across the product's lifecycle. The vulnerability classification as difficult to exploit suggests that while the attack vector exists, successful exploitation requires specific conditions and circumstances that may not be easily replicated in all environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a weakness that allows an attacker with low privilege levels and network access through HTTP protocols to compromise the Oracle WebCenter Sites system. This represents a significant security concern as it demonstrates that even users with minimal authentication credentials can potentially access sensitive data within the application. The CVSS score of 3.1 reflects the relatively low severity impact, specifically targeting confidentiality aspects with a low impact rating for data read access. The CVSS vector analysis reveals an attack complexity of high, requiring significant effort from the attacker, while the privilege requirement is set to low, indicating that no elevated permissions are necessary to initiate the attack. The absence of user interaction requirements and the lack of system scope changes suggest that the vulnerability primarily affects the data confidentiality aspect without causing system-wide disruptions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it could potentially allow unauthorized access to a subset of Oracle WebCenter Sites accessible data, which might include sensitive content, user information, or business-critical data managed through the platform. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and could be leveraged by threat actors to conduct reconnaissance activities or gather intelligence about the organization's web content management systems. The attack scenario typically involves an unauthenticated or low-privileged attacker exploiting the HTTP interface to gain read access to restricted data elements, potentially compromising the integrity of the content management system. Organizations utilizing affected versions of Oracle WebCenter Sites face the risk of data leakage and potential information disclosure that could impact business operations and customer trust.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3598 should prioritize immediate patching and updates to the affected Oracle WebCenter Sites versions, following Oracle's security advisory recommendations. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to restrict HTTP access to the vulnerable system, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous access patterns or unauthorized data access attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential access points or related vulnerabilities within their Oracle Fusion Middleware environment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, emphasizing the importance of maintaining least privilege principles and implementing robust authentication mechanisms. Regular security audits and continuous monitoring of application logs should be established to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts effectively.