CVE-2021-2173 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2021-2173, a vulnerability in the Recovery component of Oracle Database Server affecting versions 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c, and 19c.

Understanding CVE-2021-2173

CVE-2021-2173 is a vulnerability in the Recovery component of Oracle Database Server that can be exploited by a high privileged attacker to compromise Recovery, potentially leading to unauthorized data access.

What is CVE-2021-2173?

The CVE-2021-2173 vulnerability affects Oracle Database Server versions 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c, and 19c. It allows a high privileged attacker with DBA Level Account privilege and network access via Oracle Net to compromise Recovery, potentially impacting additional products.

The Impact of CVE-2021-2173

Successful exploitation of CVE-2021-2173 can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Recovery accessible data, posing confidentiality risks to the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-2173

CVE-2021-2173 has a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 4.1, with a confidentiality impact. The vulnerability is classified with the vector string: AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Recovery component of Oracle Database Server could allow a high privileged attacker to compromise Recovery and gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data.

Affected Systems and Versions

Oracle Database Server versions 12.1.0.2, 12.2.0.1, 18c, and 19c are affected by CVE-2021-2173, potentially exposing them to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker with a DBA Level Account privilege and network access via Oracle Net to compromise Recovery, impacting data confidentiality.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-2173, users are advised to take immediate steps and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply relevant patches and updates provided by Oracle to address the vulnerability.
Review and restrict high-level privileges to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Oracle Database Server to address security vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and network security measures to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Oracle and promptly apply patches to secure your systems against CVE-2021-2173.