CVE-2023-22073 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle Notification Server component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 19.3-19.20 and 21.3-21.11. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with access to the physical communication segment attached to the hardware where the Oracle Notification Server executes to compromise Oracle Notification Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Notification Server accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 4.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22073 resides within Oracle Notification Server, a component of Oracle Database Server that handles notification services for database operations. This particular flaw affects specific version ranges including 19.3 through 19.20 and 21.3 through 21.11, representing a significant portion of Oracle Database Server releases that organizations commonly deploy in production environments. The vulnerability classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal prerequisites to leverage this weakness, making it particularly concerning for organizations with exposed database infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Oracle Notification Server implementation. Attackers who gain physical access to the communication segment connected to the hardware hosting the Oracle Notification Server can exploit this weakness without requiring any authentication credentials. This access pattern aligns with attack vectors described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Network Service Scanning and Credential Access domains, where adversaries exploit network-based services to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability specifically allows for unauthorized read access to a subset of data accessible through the notification server, which according to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) represents a clear breakdown in access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests in several critical areas for database administrators and security professionals. Organizations running affected Oracle Database Server versions face potential data exposure risks where sensitive information accessible through notification server channels could be read by unauthorized parties. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.3 indicates a medium severity impact primarily focused on confidentiality, suggesting that while the vulnerability does not directly enable system compromise or privilege escalation, it does allow for unauthorized data access that could lead to information leakage. The attack vector requiring only local network access (AV:A) combined with low attack complexity (AC:L) makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where physical network security is not adequately enforced, as described in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework under the Protect function.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by ensuring proper network segmentation and access controls around Oracle Notification Server instances. The recommended approach involves restricting physical access to network segments where Oracle Database Server components operate, implementing network access controls, and applying Oracle's official security patches as soon as they become available. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network audits to identify and isolate Oracle Notification Server instances that may be exposed to untrusted network segments. The vulnerability's characteristics align with the principle of least privilege as outlined in the ISO/IEC 27001 standard, where access to critical system components should be restricted to authorized personnel only, and the need for network-level access controls demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies as recommended in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other database components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar threats.