CVE-2023-21970 in BI Publisher
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle BI Publisher product of Oracle Analytics (component: Security). The supported version that is affected is 6.4.0.0.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle BI Publisher. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle BI Publisher accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 5.7 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21970 affects Oracle BI Publisher within the Oracle Analytics suite, specifically targeting the Security component of version 6.4.0.0.0. This represents a significant security weakness that enables attackers with minimal privileges to potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the system. The vulnerability operates through HTTP network connections, making it accessible to attackers who can establish network communication with the target system. The CVSS base score of 5.7 indicates a medium severity threat with confidentiality impacts, though the potential for unauthorized access to critical data makes this a serious concern for organizations relying on Oracle BI Publisher for business intelligence and reporting functions.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and authentication mechanisms within the Oracle BI Publisher component. Attackers can exploit this weakness by leveraging network-based HTTP connections to compromise the system, requiring only low privilege levels to initiate the attack vector. The fact that human interaction is required from an individual other than the attacker suggests that the exploitation process may involve social engineering elements or require specific user actions such as clicking on malicious links or opening infected documents. This dependency on human interaction does not diminish the severity of the vulnerability but rather indicates that the attack may be more subtle and potentially harder to detect through automated security measures.
The operational impact of successfully exploiting CVE-2023-21970 can be devastating for organizations using Oracle BI Publisher for their business intelligence needs. The vulnerability allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical data, potentially compromising all data accessible through the Oracle BI Publisher interface. This includes sensitive business reports, financial data, operational metrics, and other confidential information that organizations rely on for decision-making processes. The complete access to all Oracle BI Publisher accessible data means that attackers could potentially exfiltrate entire datasets, manipulate reporting information, or use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the organization's network infrastructure. The confidentiality impact rating of high severity reflects the potential for significant data breaches that could affect regulatory compliance, competitive positioning, and overall business operations.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. Immediate patching of the Oracle BI Publisher component to the latest supported version is the primary recommendation, as Oracle typically provides security patches for such vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the Oracle BI Publisher system to unnecessary network access. Implementing robust monitoring and logging mechanisms can help detect unusual access patterns or attempted exploitation activities. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential attack vectors and ensure proper implementation of security controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and may map to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access, making comprehensive security measures essential for protecting against both current and potential future exploitation attempts.