CVE-2020-14584 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle BI Publisher product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: BI Publisher Security). Supported versions that are affected are 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 and while the vulnerability is in Oracle BI 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 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 8.2 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/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 • 11/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14584 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle BI Publisher, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that serves as a comprehensive reporting and publishing solution for enterprise data visualization. This vulnerability specifically resides within the BI Publisher Security framework and affects two major release versions including 12.2.1.3.0 and 12.2.1.4.0, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these middleware versions across enterprise environments. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage standard network-based attacks without requiring privileged access or specialized tools, creating a significant risk for organizations that have not yet patched their systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Oracle BI Publisher component, allowing unauthenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access through standard HTTP network connections. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited by malicious actors who do not require prior system access or credentials to initiate attacks. The CVSS score of 8.2 reflects the high severity of this vulnerability, particularly emphasizing the confidentiality and integrity impacts it can cause. The attack vector AV:N indicates network-based exploitation, while AC:L shows low complexity requirements for successful execution, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors including automated tools. The PR:N classification confirms that no prior privileges are required for exploitation, and the UI:R element indicates that successful attacks require some form of user interaction, though this interaction is typically not initiated by the attacker themselves.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of Oracle BI Publisher accessible data, including sensitive business intelligence reports, financial data, and other confidential information. The potential for unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations creates additional risk for data integrity, allowing attackers to modify or corrupt critical business data that organizations rely upon for decision-making processes. This vulnerability's ability to impact additional products through the attack surface demonstrates the interconnected nature of enterprise middleware environments where a single compromised component can lead to broader system infiltration. Organizations utilizing Oracle BI Publisher for mission-critical operations face significant risk of data breaches and operational disruption if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack frameworks such as those defined in the MITRE ATT&CK methodology, where the exploitation would likely map to techniques involving initial access through network services and privilege escalation through data manipulation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a clear example of how weak authentication mechanisms can lead to complete system compromise. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious network activity. Additional mitigations include restricting HTTP access to trusted networks, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential entry points within the Oracle Fusion Middleware environment. The vulnerability's impact on both confidentiality and integrity makes it particularly dangerous in environments where data governance and compliance requirements are critical factors in security planning.