Vulnerability Note VU#659043

Oracle9i Application Server Apache PL/SQL module vulnerable to buffer overflow via Database Access Descriptor password

Overview

A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Apache Procedural Language/Structured Query Language (PL/SQL) module used by Oracle9i Application Server (iAS). Specifying a crafted password for a Database Access Descriptor (DAD) could cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Apache service.

I. Description

NGSSoftware has released Insight Security Research Advisory #NISR06022002B that describes a number of vulnerabilities in the Apache PL/SQL module used by Oracle9i Application Server (iAS). This document addresses a buffer overflow vulnerability caused by a crafted DAD password entered in the PL/SQL gateway configuration page.

Oracle iAS uses the Apache HTTP Server to provide web services, including access to stored procedures via the Oracle PL/SQL module (modpplsql or mod_plsql). In iAS, PL/SQL is used to communicate with a database and generate HTML that can be interpreted by a web browser. A DAD specifies how a PL/SQL request connects to a database application. The PL/SQL module provides a web-based administration interface to add and configure DADs. When creating a new DAD, specifying a malformed password in the configuration form could trigger a buffer overflow, executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the Apache service. In the default configuration, the administration pages are available to anyone who is able to access to the web server [VU#611776].

The vulnerable PL/SQL module may also be used by Oracle9i Database and Oracle8i Database.

II. Impact

An unauthenticated remote attacker could cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code on the system with the privileges of the Apache process. Since the Apache service typically runs with SYSTEM privileges on Windows NT and Windows 2000, an attacker may be able to gain complete control of the system.

III. Solution

Apply Patch

Apply the appropriate patch referenced in Oracle Security Alert #28.

Block or Restrict Access

Monitor and/or restrict access to the Apache HTTP service (typically 80/tcp). It may be possible to use TCP Wrapper or similar technology to provide improved access control and logging. Additionally, an application-level firewall or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) may be able to filter requests made to Apache.

Access to the PL/SQL gateway administration web pages can be restricted by specifying authorized user names and connect strings or an administrative Database Access Descriptor (DAD) in the PL/SQL gateway configuration file, /Apache/modplsql/cfg/wdbsvr.app. For more information, read the section titled Using the PL/SQL Gateway in the Oracle iAS documentation for the Oracle HTTP Server powered by Apache.

Note that these workarounds are designed to limit access and detect exploit attempts. These workarounds do not prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Disable Vulnerable Service

Disable the PL/SQL service (modplsql or mod_plsql in Apache).

Systems Affected

Vendor	Status	Date Notified	Date Updated
Oracle	Vulnerable	5-Mar-2002

References

http://www.nextgenss.com/advisories/oraplsbos.txt
http://www.nextgenss.com/papers/hpoas.pdf
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/4032
http://otn.oracle.com/deploy/security/pdf/ias_modplsql_alert.pdf
http://otn.oracle.com/tech/pl_sql/content.html
http://metalink.oracle.com/

Credit

The CERT Coordination Center thanks David Litchfield of NGSSoftware for information used in this document.

This document was written by Art Manion.

Other Information

Date Public:	2002-02-06
Date First Published:	2002-02-28
Date Last Updated:	2002-03-15
CERT Advisory:
CVE-ID(s):
NVD-ID(s):
US-CERT Technical Alerts:
Metric:	4.31
Document Revision:	25

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