CVE-2019-2764 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 8.5.4. 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 update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Outside In Technology accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Outside In Technology accessible data and 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 7.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2764 resides within Oracle Outside In Technology, a critical component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that functions as a suite of software development kits enabling applications to process various file formats. This specific flaw affects version 8.5.4 and represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers with network access through HTTP protocols. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal prerequisites to launch successful attacks, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such middleware components are widely deployed. The Outside In Technology serves as a foundational element for document processing capabilities across numerous Oracle applications, rendering this vulnerability potentially widespread in its impact.
The technical flaw manifests within the Outside In Filters subcomponent, which handles the parsing and processing of various document formats including but not limited to Microsoft Office files, PDF documents, and image formats. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized operations against the affected system, including unauthorized update, insert, or delete access to data accessible through the Oracle Outside In Technology interface. Additionally, the vulnerability enables unauthorized read access to sensitive data subsets within the system's accessible data stores. The partial denial of service aspect of this vulnerability allows attackers to disrupt system availability, though not completely incapacitating the service. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how insufficient validation of input data can lead to severe security consequences in document processing systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2764 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it affects the fundamental integrity and availability of systems relying on Oracle Fusion Middleware. Organizations utilizing this technology face potential data breaches where sensitive information could be accessed, modified, or deleted without authorization, while also experiencing partial service disruption that impacts business continuity. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.3 reflects the moderate to high severity of this vulnerability, with impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector requiring only network access via HTTP makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with exposed web services or applications that utilize Oracle Fusion Middleware components. Security teams must consider that the actual CVSS score may be lower if data processing occurs in environments where network data is not directly passed to the vulnerable Outside In Technology code, but this does not diminish the overall risk assessment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2764 should focus on immediate patching of affected Oracle Fusion Middleware installations to version 8.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running Oracle Outside In Technology, particularly those exposed to untrusted networks. Access controls should be strengthened through proper authentication mechanisms and authorization checks to prevent unauthorized exploitation attempts. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while also implementing proper input validation at all system boundaries. The vulnerability's alignment with ATT&CK technique T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution," underscores the importance of endpoint protection measures and application whitelisting where appropriate. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable version within the organization's infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and similar exploitation vectors.