CVE-2018-2864 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Object Library component of Oracle E-Business Suite (subcomponent: Diagnostics). 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 unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Application Object Library. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Application Object Library accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2864 resides within the Oracle Application Object Library component of Oracle E-Business Suite, specifically within the Diagnostics subcomponent. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that affects multiple version branches including 12.1.3, 12.2.3, 12.2.4, 12.2.5, 12.2.6, and 12.2.7, indicating the vulnerability has persisted across several iterations of the software. The affected component is part of Oracle's comprehensive enterprise resource planning suite that organizations rely upon for critical business operations, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments. The vulnerability classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers do not require specialized skills or extensive resources to leverage this weakness, significantly increasing the risk to affected organizations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to compromise the Oracle Application Object Library through HTTP network access, eliminating the need for valid credentials or privileged access to initiate exploitation. This characteristic places the vulnerability squarely within the realm of network-based attacks where adversaries can remotely access systems without prior authorization. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 5.3 reflects the moderate severity of the flaw, specifically categorized under confidentiality impacts with a low attack complexity and no required privileges. The vulnerability's CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N) demonstrates that it requires network access to exploit, has low attack complexity, does not require prior privileges, does not require user interaction, affects the unmodified system, and results in limited confidentiality impact. The attack surface is particularly broad as HTTP access is typically enabled and accessible in enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors.
The operational impact of successful exploitation of CVE-2018-2864 manifests as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Application Object Library accessible data, which could include sensitive business information, financial records, or operational data. This data exposure represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Oracle E-Business Suite for mission-critical operations, as the compromised data could potentially enable further attacks or provide valuable intelligence for advanced persistent threats. The vulnerability's scope is limited to read access rather than write or execute capabilities, but the confidentiality breach can still result in substantial business disruption and potential regulatory compliance violations. Organizations with extensive Oracle E-Business Suite deployments face heightened risk, particularly those with exposed HTTP interfaces or inadequate network segmentation that could allow attackers to reach the vulnerable components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2864 should focus on immediate patching of affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize applying Oracle's security patches and updates as soon as they become available, as these releases contain the necessary fixes to remediate the diagnostic component vulnerability. Network-level protections including firewall rules and access controls should be implemented to restrict HTTP access to the vulnerable Oracle Application Object Library components, particularly when such access is not strictly required for business operations. The implementation of network segmentation and the principle of least privilege can significantly reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation success. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected Oracle E-Business Suite installations and monitor network traffic for potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks within the Oracle Application Object Library component. The threat landscape surrounding this vulnerability suggests it may be targeted by automated scanning tools and script kiddies due to its easily exploitable nature, making proactive defense measures essential for maintaining enterprise security posture and compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and defense evasion tactics.