CVE-2023-21859 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record details a vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21859, which was published on January 17, 2023, by Oracle. This vulnerability affects the Oracle Access Manager product within the Oracle Fusion Middleware, specifically impacting version 12.2.1.4.0. The vulnerability allows a high privileged attacker with logon access to the infrastructure where Oracle Access Manager is running to compromise the system. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to critical data or complete control over all accessible data within Oracle Access Manager.

Understanding CVE-2023-21859

This section will delve into the specifics of CVE-2023-21859, including its description, impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-21859?

CVE-2023-21859 is a vulnerability found in the Oracle Access Manager product of Oracle Fusion Middleware, specifically within the Authentication Engine component. It allows a high privileged attacker with logon access to the infrastructure where Oracle Access Manager is operational to compromise the system.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21859

The impact of CVE-2023-21859 is significant as successful exploitation of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete control over all accessible data within Oracle Access Manager. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score for this vulnerability is 4.4, with a focus on confidentiality impacts.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21859

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism associated with CVE-2023-21859.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Oracle Access Manager allows a high privileged attacker to compromise the system, potentially leading to unauthorized access to critical data or complete control over accessible data. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score of this vulnerability is 4.4, indicating medium severity with confidentiality impacts.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Oracle Access Manager version 12.2.1.4.0 within the Oracle Fusion Middleware.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker with logon access to the infrastructure where Oracle Access Manager executes can exploit this vulnerability, gaining unauthorized access to critical data or full control over all accessible data within Oracle Access Manager.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-21859, organizations and users can take immediate steps to secure their systems and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should apply security patches and updates provided by Oracle to mitigate the vulnerability.
Limit access privileges to ensure that only necessary users have logon access to the Oracle Access Manager infrastructure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit access logs to detect any suspicious activities.
Conduct security awareness training for users to recognize and report potential security threats.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Oracle and promptly apply any patches or updates released to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-21859. Regularly update software to the latest secure versions to enhance system security.