Oracle Software Vulnerability Summary

Oracle produces a diverse set of software products to help organizations with specific needs. For example, Oracle provides the Java application, which is used across the world on computers, cable set-top boxes, and even automobiles. Java is used almost everywhere, but so are other products offered by Oracle such as Service Bus, ERP, and virtualization.

As Oracle products are used almost everywhere, these products are also available on multiple hardware and software configurations. Software such as Java can be installed on Windows, Linux, and macOS, which can help with interoperability of an organization’s business processes to be successful. However, maintaining software is a difficult task in and of itself, especially in a large organization. Maintaining the software across multiple operating systems to be up to date without breaking software solutions built on top of the Oracle software could be even more challenging. This challenge may leave organizations in a position where Oracle software goes unpatched, missing critical patches and security updates. In these cases, the Oracle software supports business critical services with a specific version of Java, which may require more planning to update older versions.

Analysts can use Tenable Nessus to detect vulnerabilities in Oracle applications and hardware in use within the organization. Once analysts have information about Oracle vulnerabilities, decisions can be made with better information on how to remediate the vulnerabilities. If these vulnerabilities are not mitigated or remediated, they could be used as an attack vector to compromise the organization.

The report uses the Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) filter to identify many of the Oracle software and hardware used in enterprise networks. According to NIST, the CPE is a structured naming scheme for information technology systems, software, and packages. Based upon the generic syntax for Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI), CPE includes a formal name format, a method for checking names against a system, and a description format for binding text and tests to a name. Tenable assigns CPEs to plugins where appropriate. This allows for analysts to search for common CPE prefixes such as “cpe:/a:oracle:storage,” “cpe:/a:oracle:vm_virtualbox,” and “cpe:/a:oracle:hyperion.” Associating CPE strings with vulnerabilities allows the analysts a greater view into separating operating system vulnerabilities from application vulnerabilities, and adds to the level of vulnerability detail provided to the organization.

Within this report, analysts are provided information on Oracle vulnerabilities detected with Nessus. There are many products from Oracle, which are broken out by function such as Collaboration, Desktop Applications, Enterprise Applications, Enterprise Management, Network Services, Operating Systems and Hardware, Storage, and Virtualized Computing. Analysts can add or remove these categories based on the products used within the organization to have a more focused report. Oracle database products are not covered in this report, but are instead covered within the “Database Summary” report. Oracle CPE strings can be added to additionally cover Oracle database technologies within this report as necessary. The report displays vulnerabilities over time as well as provides a view of the impact of the vulnerabilities and the potential risk to the organization. Using this information along with the hosts and vulnerabilities can help organizations reduce the risk from Oracle products with accurate and actionable information.

This report is available in the SecurityCenter Feed, a comprehensive collection of dashboards, reports, Assurance Report Cards, and assets. The report can be easily located in the SecurityCenter Feed under the category Threat Detection & Vulnerability Assessments. The report requirements are:

• SecurityCenter 5.4
• Nessus 6.8.1

Tenable SecurityCenter provides continuous network monitoring, vulnerability identification, and security monitoring. SecurityCenter is continuously updated with information about advanced threats and zero-day vulnerabilities, and new types of regulatory compliance configuration audit files. Tenable constantly analyzes information from our unique sensors, delivering continuous visibility and critical context, enabling decisive action that transforms your security program from reactive to proactive. Active scanning examines the Oracle applications on the systems, running processes and services, detection of vulnerable software applications, configuration settings, and additional vulnerabilities. With this information, analysts have greater insight to determine if supported and up to date Oracle applications are operating within the organization. Tenable enables powerful, yet non-disruptive, continuous monitoring of the organization to ensure vulnerability information is available to analysts.

This report contains the following chapters:

• Executive Summary: The Executive Summary chapter provides analysts and management with an overview of Oracle vulnerabilities in the environment
• Oracle Critical Vulnerability Summary: The Oracle Critical Vulnerability Summary chapter provides analysts with a listing of critical vulnerabilities within Oracle software
• Oracle Detailed Vulnerability Summary: The Oracle Detailed Vulnerability Summary chapter provides a breakout of vulnerabilities by Oracle product groups