CVE-2018-2575 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Core RDBMS component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2, and 12.2.0.1. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows high privileged attacker having Local Logon privilege with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Core RDBMS. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Core RDBMS accessible data. Note: Applicable only to Windows platform. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 2.0 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2575 resides within Oracle Database Server's Core RDBMS component and represents a significant security weakness affecting specific version releases including 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2, and 12.2.0.1. This flaw demonstrates characteristics that align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and operates under the ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation technique. The vulnerability specifically targets Windows platform implementations, making it relevant primarily for organizations utilizing Oracle database solutions on Microsoft Windows operating systems. Security researchers have categorized this issue as difficult to exploit, indicating that while it requires substantial effort and specific conditions to be successfully leveraged, the potential impact remains concerning for database administrators and security professionals.
The technical nature of CVE-2018-2575 stems from insufficient access controls within the database server's core functionality, particularly when operating on Windows platforms. An attacker must possess local logon privileges and network access through multiple protocols to initiate exploitation attempts, suggesting that the vulnerability requires both physical or local system access and network connectivity. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns this vulnerability a base score of 2.0, reflecting low confidentiality impact with a vector of AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N. This scoring indicates that while the attack requires high privileges and human interaction, successful exploitation can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Core RDBMS accessible data, which aligns with the principle of least privilege violations described in CWE-250. The requirement for human interaction suggests that social engineering or user-based exploitation methods may be necessary to complete the attack chain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to access sensitive database information that could include personal data, financial records, or proprietary business information. Organizations running affected Oracle Database versions on Windows systems face significant risk, particularly when considering that the vulnerability requires human interaction for successful exploitation, suggesting potential social engineering vectors or insider threats. The fact that this vulnerability is limited to Windows platforms means that Unix or Linux implementations of Oracle Database remain unaffected, though organizations should still maintain comprehensive security monitoring across all database platforms. This limitation also indicates that the vulnerability may be related to Windows-specific access control mechanisms or Windows service implementations within the Oracle database architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2575 should prioritize immediate patch application from Oracle, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement comprehensive access control policies, ensuring that local logon privileges are strictly limited to authorized personnel and that network access controls are properly configured to restrict unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be reviewed to minimize potential attack vectors, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized data access attempts. The vulnerability's classification as requiring human interaction suggests that employee security awareness training becomes crucial, as attackers may attempt to manipulate users into performing actions that facilitate exploitation. Additionally, database administrators should conduct regular audits of database access permissions and implement principle of least privilege concepts to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, aligning with both CWE-250 and ATT&CK framework recommendations for access control management.