CVE-2025-61749 is a security vulnerability identified in the Unified Audit component of Oracle Database Server, specifically affecting versions 23.4 through 23.9. The flaw allows an attacker who already possesses high-level privileges—specifically DBA privileges—and network access through Oracle Net to compromise the integrity of Unified Audit data. Unified Audit is a feature used to log and monitor database activities for compliance and security purposes. Exploitation of this vulnerability enables unauthorized modification operations such as update, insert, or delete on audit data, potentially undermining the reliability and trustworthiness of audit logs. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which relates to improper access control. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N) indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity but requires high privileges and no user interaction. The impact is limited to integrity, with no direct confidentiality or availability effects. No public exploits have been reported, and no patches are currently available, suggesting the vulnerability was recently disclosed. This vulnerability poses a risk primarily in environments where DBA credentials are compromised or misused, as it allows tampering with audit records that are critical for forensic investigations and compliance reporting.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-61749 lies in the potential compromise of audit data integrity within Oracle Database environments. Audit logs are essential for regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, NIS Directive), internal security monitoring, and forensic investigations. Unauthorized modification of audit records could lead to undetected malicious activities, hinder incident response, and result in non-compliance penalties. Since the vulnerability requires DBA privileges, the risk is heightened if privileged accounts are compromised or mismanaged. Organizations relying heavily on Oracle Database for critical applications, especially in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, may face increased risks of audit tampering. Although the CVSS score is low, the strategic importance of audit data means that even limited integrity impacts can have significant operational and legal consequences. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially from insider attackers or advanced persistent threats targeting privileged credentials.

1. Enforce strict access controls and monitoring on DBA accounts to prevent unauthorized access or misuse. 2. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all privileged database users to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Monitor audit logs and database activity for unusual modifications or access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Use database activity monitoring (DAM) tools to detect and alert on unauthorized changes to audit data in real time. 5. Restrict network access to Oracle Net services to trusted hosts and networks only, using firewalls and network segmentation. 6. Regularly review and rotate privileged credentials and ensure least privilege principles are applied. 7. Prepare to apply vendor patches promptly once available; subscribe to Oracle security advisories for updates. 8. Consider implementing immutable or write-once audit storage solutions to protect audit data integrity. 9. Conduct periodic security audits and penetration tests focusing on privileged access and audit mechanisms. 10. Educate database administrators and security teams about the risks associated with audit data tampering and the importance of safeguarding privileged accounts.