CVE-2018-2644 in Argus Safety
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Argus Safety component of Oracle Health Sciences Applications (subcomponent: Worklist). Supported versions that are affected are 7.x, 8.0.x and 8.1. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Argus Safety. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Argus Safety, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Argus Safety accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Argus Safety accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2644 resides within Oracle Argus Safety, a critical component of Oracle Health Sciences Applications designed for safety data management in pharmaceutical and healthcare environments. This flaw specifically affects the Worklist subcomponent and impacts versions 7.x, 8.0.x, and 8.1 of the software. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it enables unauthenticated attackers to compromise the system through network-based HTTP access, requiring minimal technical expertise to exploit. The attack vector operates over the network with low access complexity and no authentication requirements, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such systems are exposed to external networks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the Oracle Argus Safety Worklist component. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive safety data, potentially enabling them to modify, insert, or delete critical information within the system. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack surface is broad and the implementation flaws are well-defined, allowing for straightforward exploitation without advanced technical knowledge. The requirement for human interaction suggests that while the initial exploitation may be automated, some form of user engagement or system interaction is necessary to complete the attack successfully.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate compromise of Oracle Argus Safety itself, potentially affecting additional Oracle Health Sciences products within the ecosystem. This cascading effect demonstrates the interconnected nature of enterprise health sciences applications where a single vulnerability can create ripple effects across multiple systems. The confidentiality and integrity impacts, as reflected in the CVSS 3.0 Base Score of 6.1, indicate that attackers can access sensitive safety data and potentially modify critical information that could affect patient safety, regulatory compliance, and business operations. The vulnerability's potential to cause unauthorized data access represents a serious threat to pharmaceutical companies' intellectual property and regulatory compliance efforts.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on initial access and credential access tactics. The vulnerability aligns with techniques involving exploitation of web applications and network services, where attackers can leverage weak authentication mechanisms to gain system access. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical health sciences applications from external networks, deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, and ensure timely patching of affected systems. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 79 (Cross-site Scripting) and CWE 287 (Improper Authentication) highlights the need for comprehensive security controls including proper input validation, authentication mechanisms, and regular security assessments. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions and access controls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts while maintaining compliance with healthcare regulations such as HIPAA and FDA requirements for safety data management.