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Carnegie Mellon University

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CERT Coordination Center

Oracle9i Database contains remotely exploitable buffer overflow in "ORACLE.EXE"

Vulnerability Note VU#953746

Original Release Date: 2003-02-18 | Last Revised: 2003-02-19

Overview

A remotely exploitable buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Oracle9i Database.

Description

A buffer overflow vulnerability exists on all platforms in the following versions of Oracle9i Database:

    • Oracle9i Database Release 2
    • 9i Release 1
    • 8i
    • 8.1.7
    • 8.0.6
The buffer overflow exists in a portion of code responsible for processing authentication requests to the Oracle Database Server. By sending an overly large username, a remote attacker may be able to overwrite a buffer, resulting in the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the vulnerable process. This process typically runs as "Oracle" on Linux and UNIX hosts and as "Local System" on Windows systems. Oracle has published Oracle Security Alert #51 regarding this issue.

Impact

A remote attacker may be able to overwrite a buffer, resulting in the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the vulnerable process. This process typically runs as "Oracle" on Linux and UNIX hosts and as "Local System" on Windows systems.

Solution

Oracle has published Oracle Security Alert #51 regarding this issue. Patches for this vulnerability are available from Metalink (the Oracle Worldwide Support Services web site).

Workarounds

Until a patch can be applied, the CERT/CC recommends that vulnerable sites

    • disable unnecessary Oracle services
    • run Oracle services with the least privilege
    • restrict network access to Oracle services

Vendor Information

953746
 
Expand all

Oracle Corporation Affected

Updated:  February 17, 2003

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

See http://otn.oracle.com/deploy/security/pdf/2003alert51.pdf.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

The CERT/CC has no additional comments at this time.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.


CVSS Metrics

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References

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was discovered by Mark Litchfield (mark@ngssoftware.com) of Next Generation Security Software Ltd. The CERT/CC thanks both Next Generation Security Software Ltd and Oracle for providing information upon which this document is based.

This document was written by Ian A Finlay.

Other Information

CVE IDs: None
Severity Metric: 36.00
Date Public: 2003-02-11
Date First Published: 2003-02-18
Date Last Updated: 2003-02-19 15:36 UTC
Document Revision: 13

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