CVE-2020-14570 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle BI 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 Oracle BI Publisher. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle BI Publisher accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle BI Publisher accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14570 resides within Oracle BI Publisher, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that provides reporting and publishing capabilities for business intelligence data. This specific flaw exists within the Mobile Service component of the application, targeting versions 11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.4.0. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence data and system resources. The affected system components operate within enterprise environments where BI Publisher typically handles confidential financial, operational, and strategic business data that organizations rely upon for decision making and regulatory compliance.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Mobile Service functionality of Oracle BI Publisher. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unauthenticated HTTP network connections, requiring minimal technical expertise to initiate attacks. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 7.1 reflects its easily exploitable nature with low attack complexity and no privilege requirements. However, the attack vector requires human interaction from users other than the attacker, indicating that social engineering or user manipulation may be necessary to achieve successful exploitation. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of weaknesses that can be leveraged through user engagement rather than purely automated attacks, though the underlying technical flaw remains readily accessible to threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized data access, potentially enabling complete compromise of Oracle BI Publisher systems. Attackers could gain access to critical business intelligence data including financial reports, operational metrics, strategic planning documents, and other sensitive information that organizations typically protect with multiple layers of security. The vulnerability also permits unauthorized modification of data through insert, update, and delete operations, potentially allowing attackers to corrupt business intelligence databases, manipulate reporting data, or create false information that could mislead decision makers. This dual impact on confidentiality and integrity creates a severe risk for organizations that depend on accurate and trustworthy business intelligence for their operations and regulatory compliance.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, beginning with applying the relevant Oracle critical patch updates that specifically address CVE-2020-14570. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the affected Mobile Service components to only authorized users and systems. Implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their BI Publisher deployments to identify any additional vulnerabilities within the broader Oracle Fusion Middleware ecosystem. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation through web applications, emphasizing the need for both defensive measures and continuous monitoring of access patterns to detect potential unauthorized activities within business intelligence systems.