CVE-2019-2906 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Mobile Service). 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 unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher). Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and 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 access to critical data or complete access to all BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 8.2 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2906 affects Oracle Fusion Middleware's BI Publisher component, formerly known as XML Publisher, specifically targeting the Mobile Service functionality. This security flaw exists within versions 11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.4.0 of the software, representing a critical exposure that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal technical expertise to leverage this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such systems are often accessible over networks. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.2 reflects the severity of the potential impact, with a base score that considers both confidentiality and integrity risks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an authentication bypass mechanism that allows attackers to access BI Publisher functionality without proper credentials. This flaw operates through HTTP network connections, meaning that an attacker can potentially exploit this vulnerability from any location with network access to the affected system. The requirement for human interaction from a person other than the attacker suggests that the exploitation may involve social engineering or targeted user actions, though the core vulnerability remains accessible to unauthorized parties. The attack vector specifically involves network access, making it possible for remote attackers to compromise systems without physical access or legitimate credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate BI Publisher environment, potentially affecting additional Oracle products and systems that may be integrated with or dependent on the affected middleware. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to critical data within the BI Publisher system, potentially exposing sensitive business intelligence reports, financial data, or other confidential information. The vulnerability allows attackers to achieve complete access to all accessible data within the BI Publisher environment, while also enabling unauthorized modification capabilities including updates, inserts, and deletions of data. This comprehensive access level represents a significant risk to data integrity and business continuity, as attackers could potentially alter or corrupt critical business reporting information.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for spearphishing with social engineering. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, and monitoring for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N) indicates that while the attack requires network access and low complexity, the human interaction requirement means that user awareness training becomes critical. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and access controls to prevent unauthorized access to the mobile service endpoints, as well as establishing robust monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in enterprise middleware environments, particularly in systems that handle sensitive business data. Given that the affected versions are part of Oracle Fusion Middleware, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across their entire Oracle ecosystem to identify other potentially vulnerable components. The combination of high confidentiality impact and moderate integrity impact suggests that organizations must prioritize both data protection measures and access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized data exposure and modification. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to validate the effectiveness of implemented mitigations and to identify any additional attack vectors that may exist within the enterprise infrastructure.