CVE-2018-2852 in Hospitality Guest Access
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Hospitality Guest Access component of Oracle Hospitality Applications (subcomponent: Base). Supported versions that are affected are 4.2.0 and 4.2.1. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Hospitality Guest Access. While the vulnerability is in Oracle Hospitality Guest Access, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Hospitality Guest Access accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Hospitality Guest Access accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2852 resides within the Oracle Hospitality Guest Access component of Oracle Hospitality Applications, specifically within the Base subcomponent. This flaw affects versions 4.2.0 and 4.2.1 of the software, representing a significant security weakness that can be exploited by adversaries with minimal privileges. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require only basic network access via HTTP protocols to potentially compromise the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is common. The security implications extend beyond the immediate component, as successful exploitation can impact additional Oracle Hospitality products within the ecosystem, creating cascading security risks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and authentication mechanisms within the Guest Access component. Attackers with low privilege levels can leverage this weakness to execute unauthorized operations against the affected system. Specifically, successful exploitation enables attackers to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on certain data within the Guest Access system, while also granting unauthorized read access to a subset of accessible data. This dual impact on both confidentiality and integrity aligns with the CVSS 3.0 scoring system, which assigns a base score of 6.4 reflecting the moderate severity of the vulnerability. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates network-based attack vector with low access complexity, requiring only low privilege levels, no user interaction, and a potentially significant security scope that can affect additional products.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2852 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate guest information and potentially disrupt hospitality operations. The vulnerability's ability to affect multiple products within the Oracle Hospitality ecosystem means that a single exploit could potentially compromise broader operational capabilities, affecting guest management, reservation systems, and other interconnected services. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions face risks of data integrity violations, unauthorized modifications to guest records, and potential exposure of sensitive personal information. The security implications align with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and data manipulation. This vulnerability represents a critical concern for hospitality organizations that rely on Oracle Hospitality Applications for guest management and operational workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2852 should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to version 4.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the Guest Access component and enforce strict access controls for all system interfaces. Additional security measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests, implementing intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular security assessments of hospitality applications. The vulnerability's classification as a medium severity issue with potential for significant impact underscores the importance of proactive security measures. Organizations should also review their access control policies and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to critical hospitality applications. Compliance with industry standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks becomes essential in addressing such vulnerabilities. The CVSS scoring system indicates that while the vulnerability is not critical, it requires immediate attention due to its potential for unauthorized data manipulation and the ease with which it can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges.