CVE-2020-2512 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Database Gateway for ODBC component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c and 19c. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via OracleNet to compromise Database Gateway for ODBC. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Database Gateway for ODBC. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.9 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2512 resides within Oracle Database Server's Database Gateway for ODBC component, representing a significant availability risk that affects multiple supported versions including 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c, and 19c. This flaw operates at the network level through OracleNet protocol, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by unauthenticated remote adversaries without requiring any prior authentication credentials or privileged access. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires some technical knowledge and network proximity, the potential impact remains severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security teams responsible for database infrastructure protection.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of network requests within the Database Gateway for ODBC component, which allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can trigger a denial of service condition. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables an attacker to cause either a complete hang or frequent crashes of the Database Gateway for ODBC service, effectively rendering the database connectivity gateway unavailable to legitimate users and applications. This behavior aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper access to memory locations, and represents a classic example of a resource exhaustion or service disruption attack pattern. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 5.9 reflects the medium severity impact with high availability implications, where the attack requires high network access complexity but can result in complete system downtime.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can severely compromise database availability and business continuity for organizations relying on Oracle Database Gateway for ODBC functionality. When the Database Gateway for ODBC experiences frequent crashes or hangs, database applications that depend on this gateway for connectivity will encounter connection failures and potential data access issues. This disruption can cascade through enterprise applications that depend on seamless database connectivity, potentially affecting critical business processes and customer-facing services. The vulnerability's ability to cause complete DOS conditions means that recovery may require manual intervention including service restarts, which can introduce additional downtime and operational complexity.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches released in their January 2020 Critical Patch Update, which specifically address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit unnecessary access to Oracle Database Gateway services, particularly restricting OracleNet protocol traffic to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, and organizations should consider this when developing their incident response procedures and security monitoring strategies to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts against database gateway components.