CVE-2020-2971 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 5.1-19.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker having SQL Workshop privilege with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Application Express. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Application Express, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Application Express accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Application Express accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 5.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2971 resides within Oracle Application Express, a web-based development environment integrated into Oracle Database Server. This component serves as a critical interface for database application development and administration, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit database infrastructure. The affected versions span from 5.1 through 19.2, indicating a substantial attack surface across multiple Oracle Database releases. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable demonstrates the relative simplicity of executing successful attacks against this flaw, particularly when combined with the specific privilege requirements that attackers can leverage.
The technical flaw manifests through a weakness in the Oracle Application Express component's handling of HTTP requests, specifically when processing user input through the SQL Workshop functionality. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-20, representing improper input validation, which allows attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted HTTP requests. The attack requires an attacker to possess SQL Workshop privileges, which represents a low-privileged position within the Oracle Database environment, yet this access level proves sufficient to execute the exploit. The vulnerability's network accessibility via HTTP means that attackers can potentially exploit this flaw from remote locations without requiring physical access to the database server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables unauthorized modification of application data through update, insert, and delete operations. The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.4 reflects the balanced nature of the threat, with low attack complexity and low privilege requirements, yet the potential for significant data integrity and confidentiality breaches. The requirement for human interaction indicates that while the vulnerability can be automated to some extent, successful exploitation often requires user involvement in the attack process. This characteristic suggests that social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns might be employed to facilitate exploitation. The vulnerability's potential to impact additional products aligns with the ATT&CK framework's concept of privilege escalation and lateral movement within database environments, as compromising Oracle Application Express can potentially provide attackers with broader access to database infrastructure.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend to both data confidentiality and integrity, as attackers can access sensitive data through unauthorized read operations and modify data through unauthorized write operations. The subset of accessible data indicates that while the vulnerability doesn't provide complete database access, it does enable targeted attacks against specific application components. Organizations utilizing Oracle Application Express should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to database components, while also ensuring that privilege assignments follow the principle of least privilege. Regular security assessments and monitoring of SQL Workshop activities can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a medium severity issue within the CVSS framework suggests that while immediate remediation is not always critical, organizations should prioritize patching or implementing compensating controls to reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability's characteristics align with common database attack patterns where attackers target web application interfaces to gain access to backend database systems, making it a significant concern for organizations with extensive Oracle Database deployments.