CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2020-14864Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition Path Transversal

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2020-14864 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition from Oracle, with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition versions: 5.5.0.0.0; 12.2.1.3.0; 12.2.1.4.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on January 18, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
  3. Read the advisory on oracle.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
OracleBusiness Intelligence Enterprise Edition5.5.0.0.0; 12.2.1.3.0; 12.2.1.4.0Not stated
OracleBusiness Intelligence5.5.0.0.0; 12.2.1.3.0; 12.2.1.4.0Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Access vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network.
Access complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed.
Authentication
NoneNo login is needed.
Confidentiality
CompleteAll data can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.5HighCNA (oracle.com)
CVSS 2.07.8HighNVD

Official description

Vulnerability in the Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Installation). Supported versions that are affected are 5.5.0.0.0, 12.2.1.3.0 and 12.2.1.4.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.5 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
  • Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.

More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  3. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  4. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities

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