CVE-2021-35562 in Universal Work Queue
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2021
Vulnerability in the Oracle Universal Work Queue product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Work Provider Site Level Administration). Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.1-12.1.3 and 12.2.3-12.2.10. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Universal Work Queue. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle Universal Work Queue accessible data as well as unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle Universal Work Queue 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 • 10/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-35562 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Universal Work Queue component of the Oracle E-Business Suite ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically affects the Work Provider Site Level Administration functionality and impacts a range of supported versions including 12.1.1 through 12.1.3 and 12.2.3 through 12.2.10. The flaw manifests as an easily exploitable weakness that can be leveraged by low-privileged attackers who gain network access through HTTP protocols. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and resources, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such systems may be exposed to external networks without proper segmentation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and authentication mechanisms within the Universal Work Queue administration interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized operations including creating, deleting, or modifying critical data within the Oracle Universal Work Queue system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data manipulation to include complete access to all data accessible through the affected component. This represents a severe compromise of both confidentiality and integrity aspects of the security model, as attackers can not only read sensitive information but also alter or destroy critical business data. The CVSS score of 8.1 reflects the high severity of this vulnerability, with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N indicating network-based exploitation requiring low attack complexity but only low privilege levels, with no user interaction required and universal scope.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations utilizing Oracle E-Business Suite implementations, particularly those with exposed web interfaces or inadequate network segmentation. The ability for low-privileged attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical business data represents a substantial threat to business continuity and regulatory compliance. Organizations may face data breaches, financial losses, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized data access and modification. The vulnerability's impact on both confidentiality and integrity aspects means that attackers could potentially alter business processes, manipulate financial records, or compromise sensitive operational data that forms the backbone of enterprise operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability can be exploited through standard HTTP protocols, making it accessible to attackers with minimal network access and no specialized tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-35562 should focus on immediate patch deployment from Oracle, which addresses the underlying authentication and authorization flaws in the Universal Work Queue component. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit direct access to the affected web interfaces and ensure that only authorized personnel can reach the vulnerable components through secure channels. Access controls should be strengthened through role-based access restrictions and additional authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication for administrative functions. Monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities related to work queue administration functions, with particular attention to unauthorized access attempts or data modification activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, which is fundamental to secure system design. Organizations should also consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's techniques for credential access and privilege escalation to better understand and defend against potential exploitation patterns associated with such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the Oracle E-Business Suite ecosystem.