CVE-2018-3299 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Text component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2 and 12.2.0.1. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Text. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Text, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Oracle Text as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Text accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.2 (Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3299 resides within the Oracle Text component of Oracle Database Server, representing a critical security flaw that affects multiple supported versions including 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2, and 12.2.0.1. This vulnerability operates at the database level and presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Oracle database infrastructure. The flaw enables an unauthenticated attacker to gain access to the Oracle Text functionality through multiple network protocols, bypassing traditional authentication mechanisms that would normally protect such sensitive components. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.2 reflects the high severity of this vulnerability, with impacts rated as high for availability and moderate for integrity, indicating that successful exploitation can lead to complete denial of service conditions while also allowing unauthorized modifications to database content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the Oracle Text component. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specifically crafted network requests that leverage the multiple protocols supported by Oracle Database, including TCP/IP and other communication channels. The vulnerability requires human interaction from a person other than the attacker, which suggests that while the initial exploitation may be automated, some form of user action or system interaction is necessary to fully realize the attack vector. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the CWE-284 category, which deals with improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploiting weaknesses in remote services. The attack surface extends beyond just Oracle Text itself, as successful exploitation can impact additional Oracle products and components within the broader database ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3299 is severe and multifaceted, potentially leading to complete system downtime through denial of service conditions that can cause Oracle Text to hang or crash repeatedly. This type of disruption can severely impact business operations, particularly in environments where database availability is critical for application functionality. Additionally, the vulnerability allows for unauthorized modification of data, providing attackers with the ability to insert, update, or delete information within Oracle Text accessible data stores. The integrity implications are particularly concerning as they suggest that attackers could manipulate database content without detection, potentially leading to data corruption or unauthorized information disclosure. Organizations may experience cascading effects throughout their systems as the compromised database functionality affects dependent applications and services that rely on Oracle Text for content management and text processing capabilities.
Organizations must implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation involves applying the official Oracle security patches and updates released to address CVE-2018-3299, which should be prioritized and deployed across all affected Oracle Database instances. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to Oracle Database ports and services, limiting exposure to unauthorized network access. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that Oracle Text components operate with minimal required permissions and that network access is restricted to authorized systems only. Regular security monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected Oracle Database versions and ensure that proper access controls are implemented throughout the database infrastructure. The mitigation approach should also include regular security awareness training for system administrators and database operators to recognize potential social engineering attempts that might facilitate exploitation of this vulnerability.