CVE-2018-2608 in Hospitality Simphony
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Hospitality Simphony component of Oracle Hospitality Applications (subcomponent: Security). The supported version that is affected is 2.7. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Hospitality Simphony. While the vulnerability is in Oracle Hospitality Simphony, 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 Hospitality Simphony accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.6 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2608 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Hospitality Simphony's authentication mechanism, specifically affecting the Security subcomponent of Oracle Hospitality Applications. This vulnerability exists in version 2.7 and demonstrates how insufficient access controls can create severe operational risks for hospitality organizations. The flaw allows attackers to exploit the system without requiring any valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it eliminates the need for initial compromise or credential theft. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical skill or resources, potentially enabling widespread exploitation by threat actors of varying capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication controls within the HTTP interface of Oracle Hospitality Simphony, creating an entry point that bypasses normal security protocols. According to CVSS 3.0 scoring, the vulnerability carries a base score of 8.6, reflecting high confidentiality impact and low attack complexity. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates network-based attacks requiring no privileges or user interaction, with the potential for catastrophic confidentiality impact across the affected system. The vulnerability's scope extends beyond the immediate application, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to critical data or complete system compromise, potentially affecting interconnected hospitality management systems. This characteristic aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how a single point of failure can create cascading security impacts throughout enterprise environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2608 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to potentially access sensitive guest information, financial transaction data, and operational records that form the backbone of hospitality business operations. Organizations utilizing Oracle Hospitality Simphony face significant risks including regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences from data breaches. The vulnerability's network accessibility means that attackers can exploit it from remote locations, eliminating the need for physical access or insider knowledge. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK framework's initial access tactics, specifically focusing on network service exploitation techniques. The lack of required privileges or user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that may not regularly monitor or patch their hospitality management systems, as it can remain undetected for extended periods. The potential for additional product impacts suggests that this vulnerability may serve as a stepping stone for attackers to target other interconnected systems within the hospitality infrastructure, creating broader security implications beyond the immediate application.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate the affected system, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, and implementation of access controls to restrict unnecessary network exposure. The vulnerability's characteristics indicate that patch management processes should be prioritized with immediate attention to Oracle's security patches for Oracle Hospitality Simphony version 2.7. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary HTTP services, implementing robust monitoring for anomalous access patterns, and conducting comprehensive security audits to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the hospitality ecosystem. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, as the lack of authentication requirements means that attacks may not generate typical authentication failure logs. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls and ensure that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the organization's hospitality infrastructure.