CVE-2018-2936 in Communications
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Communications Messaging Server component of Oracle Communications Applications (subcomponent: Web Client). The supported version that is affected is 3.x. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Communications Messaging Server. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Communications Messaging Server, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Communications Messaging Server accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Communications Messaging Server 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).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2936 resides within the Oracle Communications Messaging Server component, specifically affecting the Web Client subcomponent in version 3.x. This represents a significant security weakness that exploits the server's lack of proper authentication mechanisms, allowing unauthenticated attackers to gain access through standard HTTP network connections. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal technical expertise to leverage this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such systems are often exposed to external networks. The attack vector operates over HTTP, suggesting that organizations with web-facing messaging services are at heightened risk without proper network segmentation or additional security controls.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing authentication check within the web client interface, enabling unauthorized access to critical system functions. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-287 which specifically addresses improper authentication issues, where the system fails to properly verify user identities before granting access to sensitive resources. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 6.1 reflects the moderate severity of impact, with confidentiality and integrity being the primary affected aspects. The vector analysis reveals that while no privileged access is required for exploitation, human interaction from an unwitting user is necessary to complete successful attacks, indicating that social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns could amplify the vulnerability's impact. The attack requires network access via HTTP, suggesting that organizations without proper firewall rules or web application firewalls may be particularly susceptible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate messaging server, as successful exploitation can compromise additional products within the Oracle Communications ecosystem. Attackers can achieve unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against data accessible through the vulnerable server, potentially leading to data corruption or manipulation. Additionally, unauthorized read access to subsets of accessible data creates opportunities for information disclosure, which could include sensitive email content, user credentials, or system configuration details. The CVSS score of 6.1 indicates that while the attack does not result in complete system compromise or denial of service, the ability to modify or access data represents a substantial risk to organizational security. The shared scope (S:C) component of the CVSS vector emphasizes that the vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate target, affecting other connected systems that may rely on the compromised messaging server.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including immediate patching of affected Oracle Communications Messaging Server versions, deployment of network segmentation strategies to limit exposure, and implementation of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting access to the web client interface to authorized users only, while also implementing strong authentication mechanisms for any administrative functions. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual HTTP traffic patterns and unauthorized access attempts to messaging server interfaces. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other Oracle products or third-party applications that may be exposed to similar attack vectors. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-287 aligns with the ATT&CK framework's credential access techniques, specifically targeting the exploitation of weak authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized system access.