CVE-2024-20911 in Audit Vault and Database Firewall
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2024
Vulnerability in Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall (component: Firewall). Supported versions that are affected are 20.1-20.9. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via Oracle Net to compromise Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall, attacks may significantly impact additional products (scope change). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 2.6 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20911 affects Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall components within versions 20.1 through 20.9. This security flaw represents a significant concern for organizations relying on Oracle's database security infrastructure, as it resides within the firewall component that is designed to protect database environments from unauthorized access and malicious activities. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector exists, it requires specific conditions and circumstances to be successfully leveraged by threat actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall system, allowing a high-privileged attacker with network access via Oracle Net to compromise the system. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 2.6 reflects the relatively low severity impact, yet the confidentiality implications are significant as attackers can gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the affected system. The attack requires human interaction from someone other than the attacker, suggesting that social engineering or insider threat components may be necessary for successful exploitation, which adds complexity to the threat landscape.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations that depend on Oracle's database security solutions for protecting their critical data assets. The scope change aspect of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation could potentially impact additional products beyond the primary Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall, creating cascading security implications throughout the enterprise environment. The requirement for human interaction, while making the attack more difficult, does not eliminate the threat as it could involve social engineering tactics or insider assistance that could be leveraged by sophisticated threat actors.
Organizations should consider implementing multiple layers of defense to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, including network segmentation, enhanced monitoring of Oracle Net communications, and regular security assessments of their database firewall configurations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and may be related to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access. Implementing strict access controls, disabling unnecessary network services, and maintaining up-to-date security patches are essential mitigation strategies. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could exploit the human interaction requirement of this vulnerability. The impact on data confidentiality could be substantial, particularly in environments where sensitive database information flows through the affected firewall components, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with strict data protection requirements and compliance obligations.