CVE-2020-2729 in Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Identity Manager product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Advanced Console). Supported versions that are affected are 11.1.2.3.0 and 12.2.1.3.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Identity Manager. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Identity Manager accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Identity Manager accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2729 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle Fusion Middleware's Identity Manager product, specifically affecting the Advanced Console component. This flaw exists in two major version lines 11.1.2.3.0 and 12.2.1.3.0, making it a widespread concern for organizations utilizing these middleware implementations. The vulnerability classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges and network access can leverage this weakness without requiring sophisticated techniques or extensive reconnaissance. The attack vector operates through HTTP connections, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from external networks without requiring physical access to the target infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls within the Identity Manager's Advanced Console interface, allowing attackers with low privileges to perform unauthorized operations against the system's data repository. This weakness enables an attacker to execute unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on specific portions of the Identity Manager data, while simultaneously gaining unauthorized read access to sensitive information within the system's accessible data set. The vulnerability's impact extends across both confidentiality and integrity aspects of the security triad, as attackers can not only view sensitive data but also modify or destroy it, potentially compromising the entire identity management infrastructure. The CVSS 3.0 score of 5.4 reflects the moderate severity of this flaw, with the base vector indicating network accessibility, low attack complexity, and the requirement for low privilege levels to exploit the vulnerability.
From an operational standpoint, the implications of CVE-2020-2729 pose substantial risks to organizations relying on Oracle Fusion Middleware for identity management services. The vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate user accounts, modify access permissions, or extract sensitive identity information that could be used for further attacks within the network. The low privilege requirement means that even users with minimal access rights could potentially exploit this vulnerability, creating a broader attack surface than initially anticipated. Security teams must consider that successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation opportunities or serve as a stepping stone for more comprehensive attacks against the organization's identity infrastructure. The impact on data integrity is particularly concerning as unauthorized modifications to identity records could compromise the entire authentication and authorization framework.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches and updates as soon as they become available, which would address the underlying access control weaknesses in the Advanced Console component. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit access to the Identity Manager interfaces, particularly restricting direct HTTP access from external networks. Implementing additional authentication layers and monitoring for unusual access patterns within the Identity Manager system can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that least privilege principles are properly enforced, and that administrative functions are appropriately protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the MITRE ATT&CK framework where such vulnerabilities would be categorized under initial access and privilege escalation tactics. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict HTTP access to Identity Manager components, particularly for versions affected by this vulnerability.