CVE-2018-2806 in Outside In Technology
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Outside In Technology component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Outside In Filters). The supported version that is affected is 8.5.3. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Outside In Technology. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle Outside In Technology accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle Outside In Technology. Note: Outside In Technology is a suite of software development kits (SDKs). The protocol and CVSS score depend on the software that uses the Outside In Technology code. The CVSS score assumes that the software passes data received over a network directly to Outside In Technology code, but if data is not received over a network the CVSS score may be lower. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.1 (Confidentiality and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2806 resides within Oracle Outside In Technology, a critical component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that functions as a suite of software development kits. This specific flaw manifests in the Outside In Filters subcomponent, which is designed to process and handle various file formats and data types. The affected version 8.5.3 represents a widely deployed configuration that exposes organizations to significant security risks. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level where data processing occurs, making it particularly dangerous when integrated into network-facing applications. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to compromise the underlying technology without requiring authentication, though successful exploitation necessitates user interaction from an unwitting individual. The security implications extend beyond simple data access, as the vulnerability can enable complete compromise of all accessible data within the Oracle Outside In Technology environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Outside In Filters processing mechanism, creating a potential for arbitrary code execution or data manipulation. This flaw operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-20, representing improper input validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation. The vulnerability's design allows attackers to craft malicious HTTP requests that, when processed by the vulnerable Outside In Technology code, can trigger unauthorized data access or partial denial of service conditions. The CVSS score of 7.1 reflects the severity of potential impacts including high confidentiality breaches and low availability disruption, though the actual risk varies based on how the technology is implemented within specific applications. When data flows directly from network sources to the Outside In Technology code, the vulnerability presents a substantial threat to system integrity and data protection.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2806 extends far beyond typical software vulnerabilities due to the widespread deployment of Oracle Fusion Middleware across enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing this technology face potential exposure of sensitive data including proprietary information, financial records, and confidential communications that could be accessed by unauthorized parties. The partial denial of service component of this vulnerability can disrupt critical business processes and applications that depend on the Outside In Technology functionality. The requirement for human interaction creates an additional attack vector that organizations must consider in their security posture, as social engineering or phishing campaigns could be employed to facilitate exploitation. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where the technology is integrated into web applications, document management systems, or content processing pipelines, making it a critical concern for information security teams responsible for protecting enterprise data assets.
Organizations must implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected Oracle Fusion Middleware installations to version 8.5.4 or later. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable components to untrusted networks, while implementing robust input validation and sanitization measures within applications that utilize Outside In Technology. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous HTTP request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in related systems. The mitigation approach should align with industry standards including NIST SP 800-53 controls and ISO 27001 requirements for vulnerability management. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and network-based intrusion detection systems to provide layered protection against exploitation attempts. Training programs for personnel should emphasize recognizing social engineering attempts that could lead to successful exploitation, as the human interaction requirement makes user awareness a critical component of overall security defense.