CVE-2021-2460 in Database Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2021
Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Express Data Reporter component of Oracle Database Server. The supported version that is affected is Prior to 21.1.0.00.04. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker having Valid User Account privilege with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Application Express Data Reporter. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Application Express Data Reporter, 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 Data Reporter accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Application Express Data Reporter 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 • 07/22/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2021-2460 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle Application Express Data Reporter, a component of the Oracle Database Server ecosystem. This flaw exists in versions prior to 21.1.0.00.04 and demonstrates how seemingly minor components can pose substantial risks to enterprise database environments. The vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization controls, which is classified as CWE-284 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration standards. The affected component specifically handles data reporting functionalities within Oracle Application Express, making it a critical pathway for potential data compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls within the Oracle Application Express Data Reporter module. Attackers with valid user accounts can exploit this weakness through HTTP network connections, requiring minimal privileges to initiate exploitation. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 5.4 indicates a moderate severity level, but the potential impact extends beyond the immediate component. The attack vector requires network access and low privilege user accounts, making it accessible to both internal and external threat actors who can leverage legitimate user credentials. The requirement for human interaction suggests that social engineering or credential compromise may be necessary to initiate the attack, though the actual exploitation can occur automatically once the initial access is gained.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests through unauthorized data manipulation and access capabilities. Successful exploitation allows attackers to perform unauthorized update, insert, and delete operations against specific data sets within the Oracle Application Express Data Reporter. Additionally, attackers can gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data subsets, potentially exposing confidential information. The affected data scope is limited to what the compromised user account can access, but this limitation can still result in significant data exposure depending on the user's privileges. The CVSS vector analysis reveals that the attack requires low complexity, low privilege, and network access, while the impact on confidentiality and integrity is rated as low to moderate. The scalability factor of S:C indicates that the vulnerability can potentially affect additional products within the Oracle ecosystem, making it a particularly dangerous flaw from a corporate security perspective.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the recommended Oracle Database Server patch version 21.1.0.00.04 or later to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit user privileges and reduce the attack surface for unauthorized access. The implementation of network monitoring and anomaly detection systems can help identify suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive privilege reviews to ensure that users have only the minimum necessary access rights to perform their legitimate duties. Regular security assessments of Oracle Application Express components should be performed to identify similar authorization weaknesses that could be exploited by threat actors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against credential-based attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations.