CVE-2023-21857 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE record was published by Oracle on January 17, 2023, and it involves a vulnerability in the Oracle HCM Common Architecture product of Oracle E-Business Suite. The vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP, potentially leading to unauthorized access to critical data or all Oracle HCM Common Architecture accessible data.

Understanding CVE-2023-21857

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2023-21857, including its impact and technical aspects.

What is CVE-2023-21857?

CVE-2023-21857 is an easily exploitable vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle HCM Common Architecture. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, modification, or deletion of critical data or all accessible data within Oracle HCM Common Architecture.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21857

The impact of CVE-2023-21857 is significant, with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 7.5, focusing on integrity impacts. This vulnerability could potentially lead to serious security breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information within the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21857

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-21857, including vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Oracle HCM Common Architecture product of Oracle E-Business Suite affects supported versions 12.2.3-12.2.12. It is categorized as an easily exploitable flaw that can be triggered via an unauthenticated attacker with network access through HTTP.

Affected Systems and Versions

The specific product impacted by CVE-2023-21857 is the Oracle HCM Common Architecture within the Oracle E-Business Suite. The vulnerability affects versions 12.2.3 to 12.2.12.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker who has network access via HTTP and does not require any special privileges for exploitation. The attack complexity is low, but the integrity impact is high, emphasizing the potential severity of unauthorized data access.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-21857 and prevent any potential security incidents, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and patching and updates should be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should apply security patches provided by Oracle promptly to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network security measures and access controls can help prevent unauthorized access to critical data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, regular security audits, and employee cybersecurity training can contribute to enhancing the overall security posture of the IT environment and reducing the risk of future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring security advisories from Oracle and promptly applying patches and updates for the affected systems is essential to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-21857 and strengthen overall cybersecurity defenses.