CVE-2023-21855 in Sales for Handhelds
Summary
by MITRE • 01/18/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle Sales for Handhelds product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: Pocket Outlook Sync(PocketPC)). Supported versions that are affected are 12.2.3-12.2.12. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Sales for Handhelds. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle Sales for Handhelds accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.5 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21855 affects Oracle Sales for Handhelds within the Oracle E-Business Suite ecosystem, specifically targeting the Pocket Outlook Sync component designed for PocketPC devices. This vulnerability exists in Oracle E-Business Suite versions 12.2.3 through 12.2.12, representing a significant security gap in mobile sales functionality that was designed to synchronize handheld devices with enterprise sales data. The affected component Pocket Outlook Sync serves as a bridge between mobile devices and the enterprise sales database, enabling field sales representatives to access and update customer information while working remotely. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the HTTP communication channel, creating an exploitable condition that allows any network attacker to gain unauthorized access to critical sales data without requiring valid credentials or prior authentication.
This security flaw represents a critical integrity risk within the Oracle E-Business Suite environment, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized modifications to sensitive sales data through unauthenticated HTTP connections. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 indicates a high severity vulnerability with low attack complexity and no required privileges, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on mobile sales operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data modification to include potential data deletion and creation operations, meaning an attacker could completely compromise the integrity of sales records, customer information, and transactional data within the handheld sales system. The attack vector through HTTP access means that this vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations with exposed web services or those that do not properly segment their network infrastructure to isolate mobile sales components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations utilizing Oracle Sales for Handhelds in their mobile workforce management strategy. Field sales representatives depend on this system for real-time access to customer data, sales opportunities, and order processing capabilities, making the potential for data corruption or unauthorized modifications particularly damaging. Attackers could manipulate sales figures, alter customer records, delete important sales data, or create fraudulent entries that would directly impact business operations and financial reporting. The lack of authentication requirements means that any individual with network access to the affected Oracle E-Business Suite components could exploit this vulnerability, potentially including insiders or external threat actors who have gained access to the network. Organizations with distributed sales teams using handheld devices would face significant operational disruption if this vulnerability is exploited, as it could compromise the entire sales data integrity for field operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to protect against exploitation of CVE-2023-21855, including network segmentation to isolate the affected Oracle Sales for Handhelds components from general network access. The implementation of proper authentication controls and access restrictions for HTTP endpoints should be prioritized, along with mandatory use of secure communication channels such as SSL/TLS encryption for all connections to the Pocket Outlook Sync component. Network firewalls should be configured to restrict access to the affected system to trusted IP addresses only, and organizations should consider disabling the Pocket Outlook Sync functionality if it is not essential for business operations. Regular monitoring of network traffic for suspicious HTTP access patterns and implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should ensure that all Oracle E-Business Suite installations are updated to the latest security patches provided by Oracle, as this vulnerability may be addressed through official patches or interim fixes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK perspective under the T1190 technique for Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the need for comprehensive network security controls and proper access management protocols.