CVE-2018-2989 in iLearning
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle iLearning component of Oracle iLearning (subcomponent: Learner Administration). The supported version that is affected is 6.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle iLearning. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle iLearning, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle iLearning accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle iLearning accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2989 resides within Oracle iLearning's Learner Administration subcomponent, specifically affecting version 6.2 of the Oracle iLearning platform. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes organizations to significant risk due to its easily exploitable nature and the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive educational data. The vulnerability operates through the HTTP protocol, allowing attackers to compromise the system without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is inevitable.
This vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-287, which addresses authentication issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 focused on exploitation for credential access. The flaw permits unauthenticated remote access to the Oracle iLearning system, enabling attackers to gain access to critical educational data and potentially modify or delete information within the platform. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.2 reflects the high severity of this vulnerability, with a base score indicating high confidentiality impact and low integrity impact, suggesting that while attackers can access sensitive data, the system's integrity may be less directly compromised through this specific vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate Oracle iLearning platform, as successful exploitation can affect additional products within the Oracle ecosystem. This cascading effect occurs because the vulnerability allows attackers to potentially access data across multiple interconnected systems that may share authentication mechanisms or data repositories with Oracle iLearning. The requirement for human interaction from a person other than the attacker suggests that social engineering or user-specific actions may be necessary to complete the exploitation process, though the initial system compromise remains unauthenticated and network-based.
Organizations should implement immediate network segmentation measures to limit exposure of the Oracle iLearning platform to untrusted networks, while also considering the deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic to the affected system. Patch management protocols must be prioritized to ensure timely deployment of Oracle's security patches, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. The security controls should also include monitoring for unusual access patterns and implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected Oracle products within their environment that may share similar vulnerabilities, as the interconnected nature of Oracle products can create cascading security risks that extend far beyond the initially identified component.