CVE-2026-83159 in Applications DBA
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2026
Vulnerability in the Applications DBA product of Oracle E-Business Suite (component: ADPatch). Supported versions that are affected are 12.2.3-12.2.15. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Applications DBA executes to compromise Applications DBA. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Applications DBA. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Oracle E-Business Suite Applications DBA product specifically affects the ADPatch component across supported versions ranging from 12.2.3 to 12.2.15. This security flaw represents a significant risk to enterprise environments relying on these specific releases for database maintenance and patching operations. The core issue lies in how the ADPatch utility handles input or processes commands during its execution, allowing an attacker who has already gained logon access to the infrastructure where Applications DBA operates to exploit this weakness. It is critical to note that while the vulnerability requires local network access rather than remote exploitation over the internet, it does not require high complexity for successful exploitation once initial access is established. The requirement for human interaction suggests that the attack vector may involve social engineering or manipulation of a legitimate user who has privileges to execute or trigger specific administrative tasks within the Applications DBA environment.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability enables an unauthenticated attacker with local logon capabilities on the target infrastructure to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the Applications DBA system. The presence of human interaction as a prerequisite indicates that the exploit likely relies on tricking a privileged user into performing an action or executing a command that inadvertently triggers the vulnerable code path within ADPatch. This could involve convincing an administrator to run a modified script, open a malicious configuration file, or interact with a compromised component during the patching process. Once triggered, the flaw allows for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution under the context of the Applications DBA service account, which typically holds extensive permissions over the underlying database and application files. This aligns closely with CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, commonly known as OS command injection, where insufficient validation of user-supplied input leads to unauthorized system commands being executed by a privileged process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, characterized by a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 7.8, which classifies it as High severity. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) confirms that while the attack requires local access and user interaction, the resulting compromise affects all three pillars of security confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can take complete control over the Applications DBA environment. This takeover allows for unauthorized modification or deletion of critical application data, extraction of sensitive information stored within the Oracle E-Business Suite database, and disruption of business-critical operations by halting patching processes or corrupting system configurations. The lack of scope change (S:U) indicates that the impact is largely contained to the local system where ADPatch runs, but given the central role of Applications DBA in managing enterprise resource planning systems, this localized compromise can have widespread organizational consequences including financial loss and reputational damage.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK techniques involving Initial Access through valid accounts or user execution, followed by Privilege Escalation if the ADPatch process runs with elevated privileges relative to other system components. The exploitation path emphasizes the importance of securing administrative interfaces and ensuring that only trusted personnel can initiate critical maintenance tasks. Attackers often leverage such vulnerabilities in conjunction with phishing campaigns or insider threats to bypass perimeter defenses, making this a significant concern for organizations prioritizing internal security controls over external ones alone.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary defense is the application of Oracle-provided patches that address the specific flaw within ADPatch. Organizations should verify their current version against the affected range of 12.2.3 to 12.2.15 and apply the latest security updates released by Oracle for these versions. In addition to patching, implementing strict access controls is essential. Administrators should enforce least privilege principles, ensuring that only authorized individuals have logon access to servers running Applications DBA. Multi-factor authentication should be mandated for all administrative accounts to reduce the risk of credential theft leading to initial infrastructure access. Furthermore, monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect unusual activities during patching operations, such as unexpected command executions or changes in file permissions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for IT staff can also mitigate the human interaction aspect by reducing susceptibility to social engineering tactics designed to trigger this vulnerability.