CVE-2023-21891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-21891 pertains to a vulnerability found in the Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Fusion Middleware. It allows a low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise the Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition, potentially leading to unauthorized data access and manipulation.

Understanding CVE-2023-21891

This vulnerability impacts Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition and could have serious implications for organizations using the affected versions.

What is CVE-2023-21891?

The vulnerability in Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition allows a low privileged attacker to compromise the system through network access via HTTP. Successful exploitation may lead to unauthorized data access and manipulation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21891

If successfully exploited, this vulnerability can result in unauthorized updates, inserts, or deletes to some of the accessible data within Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition. It may also allow unauthorized read access to a subset of the data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21891

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition arises from the Visual Analyzer component of Oracle Fusion Middleware. It is classified as an easily exploitable vulnerability with a base score of 5.4, having impacts on confidentiality and integrity.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition versions 5.9.0.0.0 and 6.4.0.0.0 are confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

A low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP can exploit this vulnerability. Successful attacks necessitate human interaction from a third party, not the attacker, and may have consequential impacts on additional products.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2023-21891 vulnerability, certain immediate steps can be taken, along with long-term security practices and the importance of applying patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should monitor security alerts from Oracle and apply relevant patches promptly.
Limit network access to minimize exposure to potential attackers.
Educate users on identifying suspicious activities that could exploit this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms to restrict unauthorized access.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial for organizations using Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition to stay informed about security advisories and apply patches provided by Oracle to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-21891. Regularly updating software helps in maintaining a secure environment and safeguarding sensitive data.