CVE-2019-2616
Oracle BI Publisher Unauthorized Access Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2019-2616 is a vulnerability in Oracle BI Publisher (formerly XML Publisher) that allows unauthorized access to sensitive data. The unspecified flaw in Oracle BI Publisher enables a remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to the application and potentially extract confidential business intelligence reports and data. This vulnerability was added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on March 25, 2022. With an EPSS score of 96.5% (99.8th percentile), exploitation is highly likely for unpatched Oracle BI Publisher instances.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:NOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| oracle | business intelligence publisher | 11.1.1.9.0; 12.2.1.3.0; 12.2.1.4.0 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
References
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-2616(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-287: Improper Authentication
CVE-2019-2616 is associated with CWE-287, which describes vulnerabilities where an application does not properly verify the identity of a user before granting access to protected resources. The vulnerability in Oracle BI Publisher allows unauthorized users to bypass authentication mechanisms and access sensitive business intelligence data without proper credentials.
Learn more: CWE-287 — Improper Authentication
Impact Analysis
CVE-2019-2616 enables unauthorized access to Oracle BI Publisher, a widely used enterprise reporting tool that typically contains sensitive business data, financial reports, and operational metrics. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can access confidential reports and dashboards without proper authorization, potentially exposing sensitive corporate data, customer information, and financial details. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network, making any internet-facing or internally accessible Oracle BI Publisher instance a potential target. The EPSS score of 96.5% confirms that exploitation is highly likely, and organizations relying on Oracle BI Publisher for critical reporting should prioritize remediation.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2019-2616 has been confirmed as actively exploited in the wild by CISA, which added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score of 96.5% (99.8th percentile) indicates that exploitation is highly likely for any exposed Oracle BI Publisher instance. The combination of network accessibility and the value of business intelligence data makes this an attractive target for both opportunistic and targeted attacks.
Remediation
- Apply Oracle Critical Patch Update: Install the Oracle Critical Patch Update (CPU) that addresses CVE-2019-2616, following Oracle's official security advisory.
- Restrict network access to BI Publisher: Limit access to Oracle BI Publisher to authorized internal networks only, preventing internet-facing exposure.
- Review user access and permissions: Audit all user accounts in Oracle BI Publisher, remove unnecessary access, and enforce the principle of least privilege.
- Enable authentication and access logging: Ensure comprehensive logging is enabled for all authentication attempts and data access events in BI Publisher.
- Implement network monitoring: Deploy network-level monitoring to detect unusual access patterns or data exfiltration attempts targeting the BI Publisher application.
Technical Details
CVE-2019-2616 is an unspecified vulnerability in Oracle BI Publisher (formerly Oracle XML Publisher), a component of the Oracle Fusion Middleware suite. Oracle BI Publisher is used for designing, generating, and delivering business reports. The vulnerability exists in a component that can be accessed remotely over HTTP without authentication. While Oracle has not disclosed the specific technical details, the vulnerability allows an attacker to access data managed by BI Publisher without proper authorization. The attack vector is network-based with low complexity, and no user interaction is required for exploitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2019-2616 being actively exploited?
Yes. CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2019-2616 and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on March 25, 2022. The EPSS score of 96.5% indicates exploitation is highly likely.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-2616?
CVE-2019-2616 affects Oracle BI Publisher (formerly Oracle XML Publisher), which is part of the Oracle Fusion Middleware product suite. It is widely deployed in enterprise environments for business intelligence reporting.
How do I fix CVE-2019-2616?
Apply the relevant Oracle Critical Patch Update that addresses CVE-2019-2616. Restrict network access to BI Publisher and review user access permissions to ensure only authorized users can access the application.
How severe is CVE-2019-2616?
CVE-2019-2616 is a significant vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence data. With an EPSS score of 96.5% and confirmed active exploitation, it should be treated as a high-priority remediation item for any organization running Oracle BI Publisher.
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