CVE-2017-3625 in WebCenter Content
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebCenter Content component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Content Server). Supported versions that are affected are 11.1.1.7, 11.1.1.9, 12.2.1.0, 12.2.1.1 and 12.2.1.2. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle WebCenter Content. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle WebCenter Content, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle WebCenter Content accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle WebCenter Content accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3625 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebCenter Content component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, specifically within the Content Server subcomponent. This vulnerability affects multiple version lines including 11.1.1.7, 11.1.1.9, 12.2.1.0, 12.2.1.1, and 12.2.1.2, indicating a widespread impact across the product's lifecycle. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable means that attackers can leverage it without requiring specialized skills or significant resources, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such systems are often exposed to external networks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Content Server component, allowing unauthenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system through HTTP network connections. This flaw operates at the application layer and requires minimal prerequisites for exploitation, as it does not demand prior authentication credentials or privileged access. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.0 score of 8.2 reflects its high severity, with a base score that indicates significant impact on both confidentiality and integrity. The attack vector AV:N (network) combined with low access complexity AC:L (low) creates a dangerous combination where remote attackers can compromise the system without requiring physical access or prior system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate compromise of the WebCenter Content system itself. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to critical data stored within the content repository, potentially exposing sensitive business information, intellectual property, or confidential documents. The vulnerability also allows for unauthorized modification of content, enabling attackers to insert, update, or delete data within the system. This capability significantly impacts data integrity and can lead to information corruption or manipulation that may go undetected for extended periods. The CVSS vector specifically indicates that the vulnerability can affect critical system data with high confidentiality impact while maintaining a moderate integrity impact, suggesting that the primary threat involves data exfiltration rather than system disruption.
The requirement for human interaction from a person other than the attacker indicates that while the vulnerability is easily exploitable, it likely involves some form of social engineering or user-specific interaction that makes the attack more sophisticated than simple automated exploitation. This characteristic suggests that attackers may need to convince users to perform specific actions that trigger the vulnerability, potentially through phishing campaigns or other deceptive means. The attack's impact on additional products demonstrates the interconnected nature of enterprise systems where compromising one component can provide access to related systems or data repositories within the same infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to the Content Server, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP requests, and implementation of strong authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving Initial Access through Web Application Exploitation and Credential Access through Unsecured Network Services. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent exploitation, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unauthorized access attempts or suspicious network activities. The vulnerability's classification under the CVSS scoring system highlights the need for immediate remediation as it represents a significant risk to enterprise data security and compliance requirements.