CVE-2021-2271 in Work in Process
Summary
by MITRE • 04/23/2021
Vulnerability in the Oracle Work in Process product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Resource Exceptions). Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.3 and 12.2.3-12.2.8. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Work in Process. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle Work in Process accessible data as well as unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle Work in Process accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 8.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2271 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Work in Process component of the Oracle E-Business Suite ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically resides in the Resource Exceptions functionality and affects Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.1.3 and 12.2.3 through 12.2.8, making it a widespread concern across multiple release lines. The vulnerability classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this weakness with minimal technical sophistication, particularly when they possess network access through HTTP protocols. The security implications extend beyond simple data access as this vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized operations including creation, deletion, and modification of critical data within the Oracle Work in Process environment. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 reflects the severity of impact, with high scores for both confidentiality and integrity, indicating that successful exploitation can result in complete data compromise and unauthorized access to all accessible data within the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the Resource Exceptions component of Oracle Work in Process. Attackers with low privileged network access can exploit this weakness to manipulate data flows and gain unauthorized access to critical business processes and sensitive information. The vulnerability operates through HTTP network protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from remote locations without requiring physical access to the system. The attack vector AV:N indicates network accessibility, while AC:L suggests low attack complexity, meaning that an attacker with minimal technical expertise can successfully compromise the system. The PR:L classification demonstrates that only low privilege access is required, which significantly amplifies the threat as it reduces the barriers for exploitation. The vulnerability's impact extends to both confidentiality and integrity aspects, allowing attackers to not only read sensitive data but also modify or delete critical business information, potentially disrupting operational workflows and compromising business continuity.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of CVE-2021-2271 can result in substantial business disruption and financial loss. The ability to create, delete, or modify critical data within Oracle Work in Process can directly impact manufacturing processes, production scheduling, and resource allocation activities that are fundamental to business operations. Organizations utilizing affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized modifications to critical manufacturing data, and complete loss of access to sensitive operational information. The vulnerability's potential to enable unauthorized access to all Oracle Work in Process accessible data creates a scenario where attackers can gain comprehensive visibility into manufacturing operations, resource utilization, and production processes, which could be leveraged for competitive advantage or malicious purposes. The CVSS vector specifically highlights the high impact on both confidentiality and integrity, suggesting that attackers can potentially access sensitive manufacturing data and corrupt critical operational information that directly impacts business processes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including applying the relevant Oracle security patches and updates as provided in Oracle's Critical Patch Updates. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of Oracle Work in Process components to unauthorized network access. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Security configuration reviews should focus on ensuring proper access controls and input validation mechanisms are in place within the Oracle E-Business Suite environment. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access to critical manufacturing data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and data manipulation, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures including network monitoring, access control reviews, and regular security assessments to protect against potential exploitation attempts targeting Oracle E-Business Suite environments.