CVE-2018-2648 in FLEXCUBE Universal Banking
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking component of Oracle Financial Services Applications (subcomponent: Infrastructure). Supported versions that are affected are 11.3.0, 11.4.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3, 12.1.0, 12.2.0, 12.3.0 and 12.4.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2648 resides within Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking, a critical component of Oracle Financial Services Applications that serves as a foundational infrastructure for banking operations. This vulnerability specifically affects multiple versions of the FLEXCUBE Universal Banking system including 11.3.0, 11.4.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3, 12.1.0, 12.2.0, 12.3.0, and 12.4.0, representing a significant attack surface across the product lifecycle. The vulnerability is classified as easily exploitable, indicating that attackers can leverage it with minimal technical sophistication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where security controls may be insufficient.
The technical flaw manifests as a weakness in the HTTP handling mechanisms of the Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking infrastructure, allowing attackers with low privilege levels and network access to execute malicious code. This vulnerability operates at the network level, requiring only HTTP connectivity to exploit, which means it can be targeted from external networks without requiring physical access or elevated privileges within the system. The attack vector specifically targets the infrastructure component of the FLEXCUBE Universal Banking system, which serves as the backbone for various banking functionalities and represents a prime target for adversaries seeking to compromise financial institutions' core operational systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and encompasses all three fundamental principles of information security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 8.8 indicates a high severity level with high impacts across all three domains, meaning successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain full control over the Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking system, potentially enabling them to manipulate financial transactions, access sensitive customer data, disrupt banking operations, or establish persistent access points within the financial institution's infrastructure. The potential for widespread disruption extends beyond individual system compromise to threaten entire banking operations and customer trust.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) framework, where such issues typically fall under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation or CWE-264: Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, given the low privilege requirements and network-based attack surface. From an MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1071.1: Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, representing a clear path for attackers to move from initial access to system compromise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, firewall rules to restrict HTTP access, application firewalls, and comprehensive monitoring of HTTP traffic for suspicious patterns. Regular patching and vulnerability management processes should be prioritized, with the affected versions receiving security updates from Oracle to address the underlying infrastructure weakness. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and conducting regular security assessments of the FLEXCUBE Universal Banking infrastructure will help reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from similar vulnerabilities.