CVE-2019-2868 in Berkeley DB
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Data Store component of Oracle Berkeley DB. Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.6.1.23, 12.1.6.1.26, 12.1.6.1.29, 12.1.6.1.36, 12.1.6.2.23 and 12.1.6.2.32. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Data Store executes to compromise Data Store. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Data Store. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.0 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2868 resides within Oracle Berkeley DB's Data Store component, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple version releases including 12.1.6.1.23, 12.1.6.1.26, 12.1.6.1.29, 12.1.6.1.36, 12.1.6.2.23, and 12.1.6.2.32. This flaw operates at the foundational level of database operations and presents a complex attack surface that requires careful analysis of both system architecture and operational security practices. The vulnerability classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack path is not trivial, it remains a serious concern for organizations relying on Berkeley DB for critical data storage operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the Data Store component, allowing an attacker with local system access to potentially compromise the entire database system. The CVSS score of 7.0 reflects the severity across confidentiality, integrity, and availability dimensions, indicating that successful exploitation could result in complete system takeover. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms that protect database operations, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data manipulation, theft, or system disruption. The attack vector requires local logon access, meaning that an attacker must first establish a foothold on the target infrastructure before leveraging this vulnerability, though the subsequent compromise can be devastating.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using Oracle Berkeley DB in production environments where local system access might be compromised through various attack vectors including credential theft, insider threats, or lateral movement techniques. The requirement for human interaction beyond the initial compromise suggests that social engineering or additional attack steps might be necessary to fully exploit this weakness, but the potential for complete system takeover makes this a critical concern. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure to include full system control, which could enable attackers to modify database contents, delete critical information, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest Oracle security patches and updates, conducting comprehensive system access reviews, and implementing robust monitoring for unauthorized local access attempts. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit potential attack surfaces, while regular security assessments should verify that no unauthorized local accounts exist. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated system configurations and implementing proper access controls for all system components, particularly those handling sensitive data storage operations. Security teams should prioritize monitoring for unusual local system activities and ensure that all database services are running with minimal required privileges to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.