CVE-2018-2971 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Applications Framework component of Oracle E-Business Suite (subcomponent: REST Services). 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 low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Applications Framework. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Applications Framework accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2971 resides within the Oracle Applications Framework component of Oracle E-Business Suite, specifically affecting the REST Services subcomponent. This security flaw impacts multiple version releases including 12.1.3, 12.2.3, 12.2.4, 12.2.5, 12.2.6, and 12.2.7, making it a widespread concern across various Oracle E-Business Suite deployments. The vulnerability classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this weakness with minimal technical expertise, particularly targeting the REST services interface that facilitates web-based communication within the enterprise application framework.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the Oracle Applications Framework's REST services implementation. Attackers with low privilege levels and network access via HTTP can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the affected system. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 4.3, categorizing it as a confidentiality impact vulnerability with low attack complexity and low privilege requirements. The vector notation AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N indicates that the attack requires network access, has low complexity, demands only low privileges, does not require user interaction, affects an unmodified system, and results in limited confidentiality impact. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms within software applications, making it a classic example of inadequate privilege enforcement in web services.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2971 extends beyond simple data exposure, representing a significant risk to enterprise information security. Organizations utilizing affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions face potential unauthorized access to sensitive business data, financial records, customer information, and operational details that should remain protected within the enterprise environment. The low privilege requirement means that even users with minimal system access can potentially exploit this vulnerability, amplifying the risk to organizations where access controls may not be strictly enforced. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the initial access phase where adversaries seek to establish footholds within target networks. The impact is particularly concerning for organizations with extensive Oracle E-Business Suite deployments, as the vulnerability affects core business processes and data management functions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with applying the relevant Oracle security patches released in their critical patch updates. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be enhanced to restrict access to REST services interfaces, particularly limiting access to trusted IP addresses and implementing additional authentication layers. Regular security assessments and monitoring of REST service access logs can help detect anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security practices including privilege management, access control reviews, and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent similar weaknesses from being exploited in other components of the Oracle E-Business Suite ecosystem. System administrators should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against the vulnerable REST services interface.