CVE-2019-2767 in BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher)
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: BI Publisher Security). The supported version that is affected is 11.1.1.9.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher). 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 update, insert or delete access to some of BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.2 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2767 resides within the BI Publisher component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, formerly known as XML Publisher, specifically within the security subcomponent of this widely deployed enterprise reporting tool. This vulnerability affects version 11.1.1.9.0 of the software and represents a critical security weakness that fundamentally undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the affected system. The flaw exists in the authentication mechanisms that govern access to BI Publisher services, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication checks within the BI Publisher application, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to exploit the system through standard HTTP network connections. This represents a classic authentication bypass vulnerability that falls under CWE-287, which specifically addresses improper authentication scenarios in software applications. The vulnerability's exploitability is rated as easily accessible due to the lack of authentication requirements for critical system functions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such tools often contain sensitive business intelligence and operational data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate BI Publisher component, as the attack surface can potentially compromise additional Oracle products within the Fusion Middleware ecosystem. Successful exploitation enables attackers to perform unauthorized data manipulation operations including updates, inserts, and deletions of critical business data, while simultaneously granting read access to sensitive information that should remain restricted. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.2 reflects the significant risk posed by this vulnerability, with the confidentiality and integrity impact ratings indicating that both data disclosure and data modification capabilities are compromised. The vector notation CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N clearly demonstrates that this vulnerability can be exploited over the network with low attack complexity, no privilege requirements, and no user interaction needed, while the scope change indicates that the impact extends beyond the immediate component to affect the broader system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to BI Publisher services, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, and application-level access controls to limit exposure. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to enterprise data. Security teams must also consider implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns and unauthorized data manipulation activities that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, regular patch management processes should be prioritized to ensure timely deployment of Oracle security patches that address this specific authentication bypass flaw.