CVE-2018-2684 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle User Management component of Oracle E-Business Suite (subcomponent: Registration Process). Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.3, 12.2.3, 12.2.4, 12.2.5, 12.2.6 and 12.2.7. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle User Management. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle User Management accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.9 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2684 resides within the Oracle User Management component of Oracle E-Business Suite, specifically affecting the Registration Process subcomponent. This flaw represents a significant security concern for organizations utilizing Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.1.3 through 12.2.7, where the vulnerability manifests as an easily exploitable weakness that can be leveraged by attackers with high privileges and network access. The vulnerability's classification under CVSS 3.0 with a base score of 4.9 indicates a moderate to high severity threat, particularly concerning the confidentiality impact it can have on sensitive data within the Oracle User Management system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication controls within the user registration process, allowing an attacker who has already gained high privileged access to the system to exploit this weakness and potentially compromise the entire Oracle User Management infrastructure. The attack vector requires network access via HTTP, meaning that an attacker with elevated privileges can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to critical data or achieve complete access to all data accessible through the Oracle User Management component. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern access controls within enterprise applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2684 extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to all Oracle User Management accessible data, potentially including sensitive user credentials, role assignments, and other critical system information. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad and can facilitate further attacks within the enterprise network by providing attackers with access to user accounts and permissions that could be leveraged for lateral movement. The vulnerability's exploitability factor of low complexity combined with the high privilege requirement creates a scenario where insider threats or attackers who have already compromised a system with elevated privileges could escalate their access to the Oracle User Management component.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle patches and security updates released for this CVE, reviewing and strengthening authentication controls within the Oracle E-Business Suite environment, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected components. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access, as it enables attackers to leverage existing privileged access to gain deeper system control. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Oracle E-Business Suite installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities in the user management and registration processes, while also implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust access controls within enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive user and system data.