CVE-2017-9278 in Identity Manager Oracle EBS Driver
Summary
by MITRE
The NetIQ Identity Manager Oracle EBS driver before 4.0.2.0 sent EBS logs containing the driver authentication password, potentially disclosing this to attackers able to read the EBS tables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9278 represents a critical security flaw in the NetIQ Identity Manager Oracle EBS driver affecting versions prior to 4.0.2.0. This issue stems from improper handling of authentication credentials within the logging mechanism of the driver component that interfaces with Oracle EBS systems. The vulnerability exposes sensitive authentication information through log files that are stored in Oracle EBS tables, creating an attack surface where malicious actors with access to these database tables can extract and exploit the disclosed credentials.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the driver component writes authentication passwords to EBS log tables during operational processes. This represents a direct violation of security best practices for credential handling and logging. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-546 which specifically addresses the inclusion of sensitive information in log files, and aligns with CWE-312 which deals with exposure of sensitive data through data leakage. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices within the driver's logging subsystem, where authentication credentials are not properly masked or filtered before being written to persistent storage.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using NetIQ Identity Manager with Oracle EBS environments. Attackers who gain access to the EBS database tables can directly extract authentication passwords from the log entries, potentially enabling them to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to Oracle EBS systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the authentication mechanism itself, potentially allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and establish persistent access to critical enterprise systems. This type of credential disclosure vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which involves credential access through various attack vectors.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2017-9278 requires immediate deployment of the patched version 4.0.2.0 or later releases from NetIQ. Organizations should also implement database access controls to restrict read permissions on EBS log tables to only authorized administrative personnel. Additional protective measures include implementing log rotation and sanitization procedures to prevent credential exposure, establishing database monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of identity management components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper credential handling practices and demonstrates how logging mechanisms can inadvertently create security weaknesses when not properly secured against sensitive data exposure. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and alert on suspicious access patterns to log tables containing authentication information.