CVE-2020-2818 in Universal Work Queue
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Universal Work Queue product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Work Provider Administration). Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.1-12.1.3. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Universal Work Queue. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Universal Work Queue, 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 Universal Work Queue accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Universal Work Queue 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 • 05/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2818 resides within Oracle Universal Work Queue, a component of Oracle E-Business Suite that manages work queue operations and process scheduling. This flaw exists specifically in the Work Provider Administration module and affects Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.1.1 through 12.1.3, representing a significant security weakness that could enable unauthorized access to critical business data. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-311 (Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data), as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive data through HTTP network connections without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites for an attacker, as it is classified as easily exploitable with network access via HTTP protocol. However, successful exploitation necessitates human interaction from an individual other than the attacker, suggesting that social engineering or user manipulation may be required to trigger the vulnerability. The attack vector represents a network-based threat that could potentially compromise not only the Universal Work Queue component but also extend impacts to other interconnected Oracle E-Business Suite products. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 8.2 reflects the severity of this flaw, with high confidentiality impact and low integrity impact, indicating that attackers could gain complete access to all accessible data within the Universal Work Queue system while potentially causing unauthorized modifications to some data.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-2818 extends beyond the immediate Universal Work Queue component, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to access critical business data and potentially modify or delete sensitive information within the Oracle E-Business Suite environment. This represents a significant risk for organizations utilizing these older E-Business Suite versions, as the vulnerability could facilitate data breaches, unauthorized transactions, and potential business disruption. The attack scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application), as it leverages HTTP protocols to access vulnerable application components. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and potential financial losses due to unauthorized access to sensitive business information, particularly since the vulnerability affects the core work queue administration functionality that manages critical business processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions to the latest security updates provided by Oracle. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the Universal Work Queue component to untrusted networks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other Oracle E-Business Suite components. The remediation approach should align with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls for access control and information security management. Additionally, organizations should review and update their incident response procedures to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability and ensure proper containment and recovery measures are in place to protect business-critical data and processes.