CVE-2018-2874 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Object Library component of Oracle E-Business Suite (subcomponent: Logging). The supported version that is affected is 12.1.3. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows physical access to compromise Oracle Application Object Library. 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 Application Object Library accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2874 resides within the Oracle Application Object Library component of Oracle E-Business Suite, specifically within the Logging subcomponent. This flaw affects Oracle E-Business Suite version 12.1.3, which represents a critical security weakness in the enterprise application infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this weakness with relatively minimal effort, particularly when physical access to the system is available. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns a base score of 4.3, reflecting the confidentiality impact severity, with the vector AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N indicating that physical access is required, the attack complexity is low, no prior privileges are needed, human interaction is required, and the scope remains unchanged while confidentiality is severely impacted.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the logging mechanisms of the Oracle Application Object Library. When an attacker gains physical access to a system running the vulnerable Oracle E-Business Suite version, they can exploit the logging component to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the application object library. This weakness is particularly concerning because it allows for complete access to all data accessible through the Oracle Application Object Library, potentially exposing critical business information including financial records, customer data, and operational details. The requirement for human interaction suggests that while physical access alone is sufficient, additional social engineering or user involvement may be necessary to fully exploit the vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it represents a significant compromise of the Oracle E-Business Suite environment's security posture. Organizations utilizing Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1.3 may face severe consequences including unauthorized data access, potential regulatory violations, and business disruption. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 284 (Improper Access Control) indicates that inadequate access control mechanisms within the logging subsystem have been exploited, which aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. The attack vector requiring physical access suggests that traditional network-based security measures may not prevent exploitation, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches including physical security controls and proper access management.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to supported Oracle E-Business Suite versions that address this vulnerability, implementing robust physical security measures to prevent unauthorized access to systems, and establishing comprehensive access control policies for logging components. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as attackers may exploit user credentials or manipulate system access through the compromised logging mechanism. Regular security assessments and monitoring of access logs should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromises and ensure that all Oracle E-Business Suite installations are maintained with current security patches and updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.