CVE-2019-2484 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 5.1 and 18.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker having Valid Account privilege with network access via HTTP to compromise Application Express. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Application Express, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Application Express accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Application Express accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2484 resides within Oracle Database Server's Application Express component, specifically affecting versions 5.1 and 18.2. This represents a significant security weakness that demonstrates how application-level components can serve as entry points for attackers targeting database infrastructure. The vulnerability operates within the context of Oracle's web-based application development framework, which is designed to enable rapid development and deployment of database applications through web interfaces. The affected Application Express component provides web-based access to database functionality, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit database resources through network-based attacks.
The technical flaw manifests as an easily exploitable vulnerability that requires minimal prerequisites for successful exploitation. An attacker must possess a valid account with network access via HTTP, which significantly lowers the barrier to entry compared to more complex attack vectors. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-284, representing improper access control mechanisms within web applications. The vulnerability's design allows attackers to leverage their legitimate account credentials to perform unauthorized operations against the Application Express environment. The attack requires human interaction from a person other than the attacker, suggesting that the exploitation may involve social engineering elements or require specific user actions that could be manipulated through phishing or other deceptive techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate Application Express component to potentially affect additional Oracle products within the ecosystem. This cascading effect demonstrates how vulnerabilities in one component can create broader security implications across an organization's database infrastructure. Successful exploitation results in unauthorized data manipulation capabilities including update, insert, and delete operations on Application Express accessible data, alongside unauthorized read access to subsets of accessible data. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 5.4 indicates a moderate severity level that reflects the combination of confidentiality and integrity impacts. The scoring vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) reveals that network-based attacks are possible with low attack complexity, requiring only low privilege levels, but necessitating human interaction and potentially affecting additional products within the system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure of the Application Express component to unauthorized network access. Organizations should enforce strict authentication mechanisms and regularly audit user account permissions to prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, indicating that defensive measures should address both account compromise prevention and network-based attack detection. Regular patch management and updates should be prioritized to address this vulnerability, as Oracle would have released security patches to resolve the access control flaws. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of access to Application Express components, particularly when combined with legitimate user account activity that could indicate compromised credentials being used for malicious purposes.