CVE-2019-2595 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: BI Publisher Security). Supported versions that are affected are 11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0 and 12.2.1.4.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher). Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher), attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2595 resides within Oracle Fusion Middleware's BI Publisher component, formerly known as XML Publisher, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise data systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.4.0 of the software, making it a widespread concern across multiple release lines. The flaw operates at the security layer of the BI Publisher subsystem, where it creates a pathway for unauthorized access that bypasses traditional authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage it with minimal technical sophistication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such systems often contain sensitive business intelligence and financial data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms within the BI Publisher security framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness through HTTP network connections without requiring prior authentication credentials, which fundamentally compromises the system's security posture. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 8.2 reflects the high potential impact on confidentiality and integrity, with the vector indicating network-based access with low attack complexity and no privilege requirements. The requirement for human interaction from a non-attacker indicates that while the vulnerability itself is straightforward to exploit, successful compromise often involves social engineering or user-specific actions that make detection more challenging. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the CWE-284 category, which encompasses improper access control issues that allow unauthorized users to access system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2595 extends beyond the immediate BI Publisher environment, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to critical data repositories and potentially affect other connected systems within the Oracle Fusion Middleware ecosystem. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can achieve complete access to all data accessible through BI Publisher, including sensitive reports, financial data, and business intelligence that organizations rely upon for decision-making processes. The potential for unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations presents a dual threat where not only can data be stolen, but it can also be modified or destroyed, leading to data integrity compromises that could have cascading effects throughout the enterprise. Organizations utilizing this software may experience significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to data breaches or manipulation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates to affected versions, implementing network segmentation to limit access to BI Publisher systems, and conducting thorough security assessments of their existing configurations. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive reporting systems. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the privilege escalation and credential access categories, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both network-level and application-level security controls. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other Oracle Fusion Middleware components that may present similar attack vectors and ensure overall system resilience against sophisticated threat actors.