CVE-2024-20987: Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This is an in-depth analysis of the CVE-2024-20987 vulnerability affecting Oracle BI Publisher.

Understanding CVE-2024-20987

This CVE entry pertains to a vulnerability found in the Oracle BI Publisher product of Oracle Analytics, specifically impacting the Web Server component. The vulnerability allows a low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle BI Publisher. Successful exploitation may require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and can potentially impact additional products beyond Oracle BI Publisher.

What is CVE-2024-20987?

The vulnerability in Oracle BI Publisher version 12.2.1.4.0 can be exploited by an attacker with network access via HTTP. The unauthorized access can lead to updating, inserting, or deleting data within Oracle BI Publisher, as well as unauthorized data read access. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score for this vulnerability is 5.4, with impacts on confidentiality and integrity.

The Impact of CVE-2024-20987

Successful exploitation of CVE-2024-20987 could result in unauthorized access to Oracle BI Publisher data, with potential infiltration into additional impacted products. The vulnerability could potentially compromise the confidentiality and integrity of data, posing a medium-level risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-20987

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Oracle BI Publisher allows a low privileged attacker to compromise the system via network access through HTTP. Successful attacks could result in unauthorized data manipulation and access within Oracle BI Publisher.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is Oracle BI Publisher version 12.2.1.4.0. Organizations running this specific version should take immediate action to mitigate the vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2024-20987, an attacker only needs low privileges and network access via HTTP. Human interaction from a user other than the attacker may also be necessary for a successful attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2024-20987, it is crucial to implement immediate steps to secure affected systems, as well as adopt long-term security practices for enhanced protection.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should promptly apply relevant security patches and updates provided by Oracle to address the vulnerability. Additionally, restricting network access and monitoring system activity can help mitigate risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing security best practices, such as regular security audits, user training on phishing awareness, and network segmentation, can bolster the overall security posture of the organization.

Patching and Updates

Staying informed about security advisories from Oracle and promptly applying patches and updates is essential to protect systems against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-20987. Regularly patching software helps in maintaining a secure environment and safeguarding sensitive data from potential breaches.