CVE-2018-3224 in Outside In Technology
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Outside In Technology component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Outside In Filters). The supported version that is affected are 8.5.3 and 8.5.4. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Outside In Technology. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Oracle Outside In Technology and unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Outside In Technology accessible data. Note: Outside In Technology is a suite of software development kits (SDKs). The protocol and CVSS score depend on the software that uses the Outside In Technology code. The CVSS score assumes that the software passes data received over a network directly to Outside In Technology code, but if data is not received over a network the CVSS score may be lower. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.1 (Confidentiality and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3224 resides within Oracle Outside In Technology, a comprehensive suite of software development kits that enables applications to process and convert various file formats. This particular flaw exists in the Outside In Filters subcomponent of Oracle Fusion Middleware, specifically affecting versions 8.5.3 and 8.5.4. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who gain network access through HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such services are exposed to external networks.
This vulnerability manifests as an easily exploitable flaw that requires minimal attacker effort to activate, though it does necessitate some form of human interaction from individuals other than the attacker. The technical nature of the vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the file processing capabilities of the Outside In Technology SDKs, which creates opportunities for malicious input to trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying processing engines. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level where network-received data is directly passed to the Outside In Technology code, creating a direct attack surface that can be leveraged for malicious purposes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to include significant availability risks. Successful exploitation can result in complete denial of service conditions where the affected systems become unresponsive or experience frequent crashes, effectively rendering the Oracle Outside In Technology components unusable. Additionally, attackers can gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the affected systems, potentially exposing confidential information that should remain protected. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 7.1, reflecting the combination of confidentiality and availability impacts, with a base score that indicates high severity.
The attack vector analysis reveals that this vulnerability operates through network-based HTTP access, making it particularly concerning for organizations that expose Oracle Fusion Middleware services directly to the internet. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H) indicates that no authentication is required for exploitation, the attack complexity is low, and user interaction is necessary but can be facilitated through social engineering or other means. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-20, which covers input validation issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack pattern also correlates with ATT&CK techniques involving command and control through network protocols and privilege escalation through service exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate Oracle Fusion Middleware components, deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious HTTP requests, and implementation of strict input validation controls. Regular patching and updates should be prioritized to address the vulnerability in affected versions, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The security posture should include regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential attack vectors that could leverage similar weaknesses in the broader Oracle ecosystem. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and conducting regular security awareness training for personnel who might interact with affected systems can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through human interaction requirements.