CVE-2019-2898 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: 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 low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2898 affects Oracle Fusion Middleware's BI Publisher component, formerly known as XML Publisher, representing a significant security weakness in enterprise reporting and document generation systems. This vulnerability resides within the security framework of BI Publisher and impacts specific version ranges including 11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.4.0, making it particularly concerning for organizations running these middleware versions. The flaw manifests as an easily exploitable security weakness that can be leveraged by low-privileged attackers with network access through HTTP protocols, highlighting the critical nature of web-based attack vectors in enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the BI Publisher security architecture, allowing unauthorized users to gain read access to sensitive data within the system. According to CVSS 3.0 scoring, the vulnerability carries a base score of 4.3 with a confidentiality impact rating of low, indicating that while the immediate data exposure may not be catastrophic, it still represents a meaningful breach of information security. The CVSS vector analysis reveals that the attack requires minimal complexity (AC:L) and can be executed from a network location (AV:N), while requiring only low privileges (PR:L) to exploit successfully. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and operates within an unchanged system scope (S:U), making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without significant attacker resources or specialized knowledge.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2898 extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially compromising the integrity of business intelligence systems that rely on BI Publisher for document generation and reporting. Organizations utilizing affected versions may experience unauthorized access to sensitive business data, including financial reports, operational metrics, and other confidential information that could be used for competitive advantage or malicious purposes. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where BI Publisher serves as a critical component for generating executive dashboards, compliance reports, and other strategic business documents. The low privilege requirement makes this attack vector especially concerning as it can be exploited by insiders or attackers who have gained minimal access to the network, potentially escalating to more severe breaches through reconnaissance and further exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle Critical Patch Update (CPU) releases that address this vulnerability, ensuring proper network segmentation to limit access to BI Publisher services, and implementing robust authentication and authorization controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a typical example of insufficient privilege checks in enterprise applications, commonly referenced in ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and credential access domains. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their BI Publisher installations, review access controls, and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify unauthorized HTTP access attempts to BI Publisher endpoints, as this vulnerability specifically exploits HTTP-based attack vectors. Regular security audits and patch management processes should be enhanced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future deployments.