CVE-2018-2899 in FLEXCUBE Universal Banking
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking component of Oracle Financial Services Applications (subcomponent: Infrastructure). Supported versions that are affected are 11.3.0, 11.4.0, 12.0.1, 12.0.2, 12.0.3, 12.1.0, 12.2.0, 12.3.0, 12.4.0, 14.0.0 and 14.1.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2899 resides within Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking, a critical component of Oracle Financial Services Applications that serves as the foundation for banking operations across numerous financial institutions globally. This vulnerability specifically affects multiple versions of the FLEXCUBE Universal Banking infrastructure, spanning from 11.3.0 through 14.1.0, indicating a widespread exposure across the product lifecycle. The affected subcomponent operates within the financial services ecosystem where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive financial information and customer data. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable suggests that attackers can leverage it without requiring specialized skills or extensive resources, while the requirement for network access via HTTP indicates that the attack surface is accessible over standard web protocols.
The technical flaw manifests as an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system's data management functions. This vulnerability specifically enables attackers to perform unauthorized update, insert, and delete operations on certain data within the Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking environment, while also providing unauthorized read access to a subset of accessible data. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 6.1 reflects the moderate severity of the impact, with confidentiality and integrity being the primary affected areas. The attack vector requires network access via HTTP, which means that the vulnerability can be exploited from remote locations without requiring physical access or privileged credentials. The requirement for human interaction indicates that while the initial exploitation may be automated, some form of user involvement or system interaction is necessary for the attack to succeed completely, suggesting potential social engineering elements or user-specific triggers that must be present for full exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate compromise of the FLEXCUBE Universal Banking system, as successful attacks can significantly affect additional products within the Oracle Financial Services Applications ecosystem. This cascading effect means that a single vulnerability can potentially compromise multiple interconnected systems within a financial institution's infrastructure, creating a broader security breach than initially apparent. The potential for unauthorized data modification poses serious risks to financial integrity, as attackers could manipulate transaction records, customer information, or system configurations that could go undetected for extended periods. The unauthorized read access capability allows for data exfiltration, enabling attackers to gather sensitive information about customers, financial transactions, or internal system configurations that could be used for further attacks or financial gain. Organizations relying on this system face potential regulatory compliance issues, financial losses, and reputational damage from such security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2899 should prioritize immediate patch management and configuration hardening measures to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit HTTP access to the affected components, while also deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter potentially malicious HTTP requests. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) and its alignment with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) highlights the importance of implementing robust access controls and monitoring for anomalous authentication patterns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader Oracle Financial Services Applications ecosystem. Additionally, organizations should establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle authentication bypass vulnerabilities, including monitoring for unauthorized data modifications and implementing automated alerts for suspicious activities. The CVSS vector's indication of a change in scope (S:C) emphasizes the need for comprehensive monitoring across all interconnected systems to prevent lateral movement and ensure complete remediation of the vulnerability across the entire infrastructure.