CVE-2019-2571 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the RDBMS DataPump component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1 and 18c. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows high privileged attacker having DBA role privilege with network access via Oracle Net to compromise RDBMS DataPump. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of RDBMS DataPump. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.6 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2571 resides within Oracle Database Server's RDBMS DataPump component, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple version lines including 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, and 18c. This flaw operates at the intersection of database administration and network security, creating a pathway for sophisticated attackers to compromise critical database operations. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector is complex, the potential impact makes it a serious concern for database administrators and security professionals. The CVSS 3.0 score of 6.6 reflects the severity of the threat, with high impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, suggesting that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the DataPump functionality, particularly when combined with network-based attack vectors through Oracle Net protocols. An attacker requiring only DBA role privileges can leverage network access to execute malicious operations against the DataPump service, potentially leading to complete takeover of the database pump functionality. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where existing administrative access is amplified to enable more destructive capabilities. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and specifically demonstrates how inadequate privilege validation can lead to unauthorized system compromise. The attack requires high privileges (PR:H) and network access (AV:N) with high complexity (AC:H), indicating that while the attack is not trivial, it is achievable by determined adversaries.
The operational impact of successful exploitation encompasses complete compromise of the RDBMS DataPump service, which serves as a critical data migration and backup utility within Oracle databases. This compromise can result in data exfiltration, modification of backup operations, disruption of database maintenance procedures, and potential escalation to broader system compromise. The availability impact is particularly concerning as DataPump operations are essential for database administration tasks including exports, imports, and database recovery processes. Organizations relying on Oracle DataPump for their database management workflows face significant operational risks, as the vulnerability could disrupt business continuity and data protection mechanisms. The integrity impact extends beyond simple data corruption to include potential modification of database migration processes, which could lead to data inconsistencies or malicious data manipulation during backup and restore operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2571 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle's security advisories, as this represents a critical vulnerability requiring prompt attention. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict unnecessary access to Oracle Net ports and database services, particularly limiting access to administrative functions. Database administrators should implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that DBA accounts have minimal necessary access and that network access is strictly controlled. Monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual DataPump activities or unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts targeting Oracle database components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, making it essential for security teams to implement comprehensive monitoring and response procedures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations and ensure that all database components remain protected against known attack vectors.