CVE-2021-2000 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE • 01/20/2021
Vulnerability in the Unified Audit component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c and 19c. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker having SYS Account privilege with network access via Oracle Net to compromise Unified Audit. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Unified Audit accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 2.4 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2000 resides within Oracle Database Server's Unified Audit component, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple version streams including 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c, and 19c. This flaw operates as a privilege escalation vulnerability that specifically targets the unified audit functionality, which serves as Oracle's comprehensive auditing mechanism for tracking database activities and maintaining security compliance. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal technical barriers can leverage this weakness, particularly when they possess SYS account privileges which represent the highest level of database administrative access. The attack vector requires network connectivity through Oracle Net protocol, establishing that remote exploitation is possible without physical access to the database server infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the Unified Audit component, allowing authenticated users with SYS privileges to manipulate audit data in ways that should otherwise be restricted. The CVSS score of 2.4 reflects the integrity impact severity, indicating that while the vulnerability does not directly enable data disclosure or complete system compromise, it permits unauthorized modification of audit records through update, insert, or delete operations. This capability represents a serious threat to audit integrity and compliance monitoring, as malicious actors could potentially cover their tracks by altering audit logs or injecting false entries. The requirement for human interaction suggests that while the technical exploit is straightforward, social engineering or legitimate administrative access may be necessary for successful compromise, making it a particularly dangerous threat vector for insider attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as compromised audit records undermine the fundamental security posture of database environments that rely on audit trails for compliance monitoring and forensic analysis. Organizations using Oracle Database versions affected by this vulnerability face potential regulatory compliance violations, as audit logs become unreliable indicators of actual database activities. The integrity impact specifically affects the Unified Audit feature's ability to accurately track and report database operations, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls while maintaining operational transparency. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where audit logging is critical for security monitoring, incident response, and regulatory compliance requirements such as those mandated by pci dss, hipaa, or soc 2 standards.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-2000 should prioritize immediate patch application from Oracle's security updates, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and monitoring for SYS account usage, ensuring that administrative privileges are granted only to trusted personnel with proper authorization. The principle of least privilege should be enforced across all database accounts, particularly those with elevated privileges, while network segmentation can limit potential attack vectors through Oracle Net protocols. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audit log reviews to detect any signs of manipulation or unauthorized changes to audit records, implementing additional monitoring for unusual administrative activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses inadequate access control, and represents a specific instance of privilege escalation that could map to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1562 for privilege escalation within database environments. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous audit log modifications and provide real-time alerting for potential compromise scenarios.