CVE-2021-2173 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE • 04/23/2021
Vulnerability in the Recovery 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 DBA Level Account privilege with network access via Oracle Net to compromise Recovery. While the vulnerability is in Recovery, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Recovery accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 4.1 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2173 resides within the Recovery component of Oracle Database Server, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple supported versions including 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c, and 19c. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-284 which addresses improper access control mechanisms, specifically targeting the recovery functionality that is critical for database restoration and disaster recovery operations. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal technical barriers can leverage this weakness, particularly when they possess DBA-level privileges and network access through Oracle Net protocols.
The technical flaw manifests in the Recovery component's insufficient authorization controls that allow a high-privileged attacker with a database administrator account to compromise the recovery functionality. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where existing administrative access is leveraged to gain unauthorized access to recovery-related data. The attack vector requires network connectivity via Oracle Net, which is the standard communication protocol for Oracle database clients and servers, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where database administrators maintain persistent connections. The CVSS 3.1 scoring of 4.1 reflects the confidentiality impact, indicating that successful exploitation results in unauthorized read access to sensitive recovery data, though the attack does not typically lead to data modification or system compromise beyond information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate recovery component, as attacks may significantly affect additional Oracle products within the ecosystem. This cascading effect occurs because database recovery operations often integrate with other Oracle services and components, potentially allowing attackers to access related data or systems through the compromised recovery functionality. The vulnerability's potential to impact additional products aligns with the CVSS vector's consideration of a changed scope, where the attack may affect more than just the targeted component. Organizations running affected Oracle Database versions face the risk of unauthorized data access during recovery operations, potentially exposing backup data, recovery logs, or other sensitive recovery-related information that could aid further attacks or provide insights into database architecture and configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-2173 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle Database versions through official Oracle security updates, as this represents the most effective defense against the vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit Oracle Net access to authorized administrative workstations only, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Database administrators should implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only necessary personnel maintain DBA-level privileges and that network access is restricted to essential operational requirements. Monitoring and logging of recovery-related activities should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts or unusual recovery operations that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level controls such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor and restrict Oracle Net traffic, particularly when the database is exposed to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses across the Oracle database environment, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust authorization controls in critical database components.