CVE-2002-0106 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
BEA Systems Weblogic Server 6.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a series of requests to .JSP files that contain an MS-DOS device name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0106 represents a significant denial of service weakness within BEA Systems Weblogic Server version 6.1. This flaw specifically targets the server's handling of requests directed toward .jsp files that contain Microsoft DOS device names such as CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, and others. The vulnerability stems from the server's inadequate validation of file paths and request parameters, allowing malicious actors to exploit this weakness through carefully crafted HTTP requests. The affected system processes these requests in a manner that leads to resource exhaustion and subsequent service unavailability, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on this web application server platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends a series of HTTP requests containing MS-DOS device names within the path of .jsp files. These device names are special reserved identifiers in the Windows operating system that represent hardware devices such as the console, printer, and null device. When the Weblogic Server attempts to process these requests, it fails to properly sanitize the input, leading to the server's attempt to access or reference these special device names. This process causes the server to consume excessive system resources and ultimately results in a denial of service condition where legitimate users cannot access the web application services. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's file system handling mechanisms and demonstrates poor input validation practices that are consistent with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation issues.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to web application availability and business continuity. Organizations running BEA Weblogic Server 6.1 are particularly vulnerable to this attack vector as it requires minimal technical expertise to execute and can effectively bring down critical web services. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple service interruption, as the server may become unresponsive for extended periods, potentially requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations. The vulnerability's exploitation pattern suggests that attackers can cause cascading failures by sending multiple requests in quick succession, amplifying the impact of the attack. This weakness also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, making it a recognized threat vector in cybersecurity frameworks.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0106 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Weblogic Server version 6.1, as BEA Systems would have released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement input validation measures at the application level to filter out or reject requests containing MS-DOS device names in file paths. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can also be configured to detect and block suspicious request patterns targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms to prevent abuse of the server's file handling capabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input sanitization and the critical need for regular security updates in enterprise web application servers, aligning with industry best practices outlined in security standards and frameworks that emphasize the prevention of input validation flaws and denial of service attacks.