CVE-2024-21174 in Database Enterprise Edition
Summary
by MITRE • 07/17/2024
Vulnerability in the Java VM component of Oracle Database Server. Supported versions that are affected are 19.3-19.23, 21.3-21.14 and 23.4. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows low privileged attacker having Create Session, Create Procedure privilege with network access via Oracle Net to compromise Java VM. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Java VM. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 3.1 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-21174 resides within the Java Virtual Machine component of Oracle Database Server, representing a significant security concern for organizations utilizing affected database versions. This vulnerability affects specific release ranges including 19.3 through 19.23, 21.3 through 21.14, and 23.4, indicating a broad impact across multiple database server versions. The flaw manifests as a difficulty in exploitation scenario, yet remains dangerous due to its accessibility to attackers possessing minimal privileges including Create Session and Create Procedure capabilities. The attack vector requires network access through Oracle Net protocols, making it particularly concerning for database environments that maintain network connectivity. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system assigns a base score of 3.1, categorized under availability impacts with a low severity classification, though the partial denial of service potential remains substantial.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the Java Virtual Machine execution environment within Oracle Database Server, where an attacker with limited database privileges can potentially compromise the Java runtime environment. This represents a privilege escalation scenario within the database context, where the low privilege attacker can leverage their existing permissions to manipulate Java VM operations. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 119 (Improper Access Control) and ATT&CK technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) demonstrates its alignment with established cybersecurity frameworks. The partial denial of service impact indicates that while the system may not completely crash, the Java VM functionality could be degraded or partially unavailable, affecting database applications that depend on Java execution capabilities. The network-based attack path through Oracle Net protocols suggests that this vulnerability could be exploited from external network locations, potentially allowing for remote compromise.
Organizations maintaining affected Oracle Database Server versions must prioritize immediate remediation efforts to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying the appropriate Oracle critical patch updates or security patches that specifically address this Java VM vulnerability. Database administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors through Oracle Net protocols. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual Java VM activity or unauthorized procedure creation attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's low privilege requirement makes it particularly dangerous in environments where database users maintain minimal necessary permissions, as attackers could potentially use this weakness to escalate their access. Security teams should also review and tighten database user privilege assignments to minimize the risk of unauthorized Java VM manipulation. The partial denial of service impact necessitates robust backup and recovery procedures to ensure business continuity, as this vulnerability could disrupt critical database applications relying on Java execution capabilities.