CVE-2019-2853 in Oracle
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).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2853 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 document formats. This specific flaw affects version 8.5.4 of the Outside In Filters subcomponent, which serves as the processing engine for document conversion and manipulation tasks within Oracle Fusion Middleware environments. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who gain network access through HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such middleware systems are extensively deployed.
The technical flaw manifests as an easily exploitable vulnerability that allows attackers to perform unauthorized operations against the affected Oracle Outside In Technology components. This encompasses the ability to execute unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on accessible data within the system, while simultaneously enabling unauthorized read access to specific subsets of data that the technology can reach. Additionally, successful exploitation can result in partial denial of service conditions that impact the availability of the Oracle Outside In Technology services. The vulnerability's classification as CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.3 indicates a high-severity threat with impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability aspects, with the attack vector being network-based and requiring no authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that it operates through HTTP protocols, which are commonly used in enterprise environments and often have less stringent security controls compared to other network communication methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it creates multiple attack vectors that can be leveraged by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and disrupt system operations. The partial denial of service component can significantly impact business operations by reducing system availability, particularly in environments where Oracle Fusion Middleware serves as a critical infrastructure component for document processing and content management tasks. Organizations utilizing this technology may experience unauthorized modifications to document processing workflows, potential data leakage through read access to sensitive information, and operational disruptions that can affect business continuity. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects a foundational component that many enterprise applications depend upon for document handling capabilities, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit weaknesses in document processing infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2853 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle Fusion Middleware installations to version 8.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of Oracle Outside In Technology components to untrusted networks, while implementing proper firewall rules to restrict HTTP access to only authorized systems. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) categories, representing weaknesses in input validation and data processing that can lead to unauthorized access and system compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) for initial access and lateral movement, while the data manipulation aspects correspond to T1484 (Domain Policy Modification) and T1070.006 (Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion) for maintaining persistence and covering tracks. Regular security audits and network monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should be updated to address potential compromise scenarios involving Oracle Fusion Middleware systems.