CVE-2021-2451 in Outside In Technology
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2021
Vulnerability in the Oracle Outside In Technology product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Outside In Filters). The supported version that is affected is 8.5.5. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Outside In Technology. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle Outside In Technology accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Outside In Technology accessible data. Note: Outside In Technology is a suite of software development kits (SDKs). The protocol and CVSS Base Score depend on the software that uses Outside In Technology. The CVSS score assumes that the software passes data received over a network directly to Outside In Technology, but if data is not received over a network the CVSS score may be lower. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 6.5 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2451 resides within Oracle Outside In Technology, a comprehensive suite of software development kits that enable applications to process and manipulate various file formats and data types. This component forms part of Oracle Fusion Middleware and specifically affects version 8.5.5, representing a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability manifests through the Outside In Filters component, which serves as the processing engine for file format parsing and conversion within the Oracle Fusion Middleware ecosystem. The affected product operates as a critical middleware element that handles data processing tasks across numerous enterprise applications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise sensitive information flows.
The technical flaw within this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the HTTP processing pipeline of Oracle Outside In Technology. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted HTTP requests that bypass authentication requirements and gain unauthorized access to the underlying data processing capabilities. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires some technical sophistication, the potential impact is severe enough to warrant immediate attention. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects the balance between the vulnerability's accessibility and the potential damage it can cause, with the score specifically highlighting the confidentiality and integrity impacts that make this particularly dangerous.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access breaches, as successful exploitation can result in unauthorized modification, deletion, or creation of critical data within the Oracle Outside In Technology environment. Attackers who successfully compromise the system can potentially access all accessible data or gain read access to sensitive subsets of information, depending on the specific implementation and data access controls in place. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on file processing capabilities within their middleware infrastructure, as it essentially provides a backdoor for attackers to manipulate the underlying data processing functions. The implications are significant for enterprise environments where Oracle Outside In Technology serves as a foundational component for document management, data conversion, and file handling processes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to the affected Oracle Outside In Technology components, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, and comprehensive network access controls to restrict unauthorized access attempts. The CVSS vector analysis indicates that the vulnerability is accessible over the network without requiring user interaction or privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is extensive. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous HTTP request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's relationship to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and potential mapping to ATT&CK techniques such as T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) underscores the need for comprehensive security posture improvements. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors, while patch management processes should be prioritized to ensure timely remediation of this and similar vulnerabilities within the Oracle Fusion Middleware ecosystem.