CVE-2019-2460 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 is 8.5.3. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Outside In Technology. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle Outside In Technology. 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 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2460 affects Oracle Outside In Technology, a critical component within Oracle Fusion Middleware that serves as a suite of software development kits enabling applications to process various document formats. This specific flaw resides within the Outside In Filters subcomponent and impacts version 8.5.3 of the technology stack. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who have network access through HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such services are exposed to external networks without proper security controls.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Outside In Technology processing pipeline, specifically when handling data received over HTTP connections. This flaw creates an avenue for attackers to craft malicious payloads that can trigger unexpected behavior in the processing engine. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal skill or resources to execute successfully, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt services. The CVSS score of 5.3 reflects the availability impact, with a base score indicating a partial denial of service condition that can compromise the stability and operational integrity of systems relying on this technology.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect business continuity and data processing workflows that depend on Oracle Outside In Technology for document handling capabilities. Organizations utilizing this technology in their document processing pipelines face risks of partial service degradation that could affect productivity and user experience. The vulnerability's severity is particularly concerning because it affects a foundational component that many applications rely upon for processing various document formats, potentially creating cascading effects throughout an organization's IT infrastructure. The CVSS vector analysis demonstrates that while the vulnerability requires network access and lacks requirements for user interaction or privileged access, its potential to cause partial denial of service makes it a serious concern for system administrators and security teams.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to systems running Oracle Outside In Technology, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, and application-level input validation to prevent malformed data from reaching the vulnerable processing components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a typical example of how insufficient validation in processing components can lead to availability impacts. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous patterns in document processing requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of the vulnerability and its potential for causing partial denial of service, organizations should prioritize patching efforts and consider alternative processing approaches for critical document handling workflows until comprehensive security measures are in place. The CVSS scoring model reflects that the actual impact may vary depending on how the software integrates with network protocols, emphasizing the need for organizations to assess their specific implementation environments and adjust their security postures accordingly.