CVE-2004-2321 in WebLogic
Summary
by MITRE
BEA WebLogic Server and Express 8.1 SP1 and earlier allows local users in the Operator role to obtain administrator passwords via MBean attributes, including (1) ServerStartMBean.Password and (2) NodeManagerMBean.CertificatePassword.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
This vulnerability exists in BEA WebLogic Server and Express versions 8.1 SP1 and earlier, where local users with the Operator role can extract administrator passwords through specific MBean attributes. The flaw stems from insufficient access controls and privilege separation within the WebLogic management infrastructure, allowing users with lower privileges to access sensitive credential information that should be restricted to administrators only. The vulnerability specifically targets two MBean attributes: ServerStartMBean.Password and NodeManagerMBean.CertificatePassword, which contain administrative credentials that should remain protected from unauthorized access. This represents a classic privilege escalation issue where a user with minimal permissions can obtain elevated credentials through legitimate management interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the WebLogic Management Bean (MBean) interface, which provides programmatic access to server configuration and operational parameters. The MBean attributes mentioned in the vulnerability description are part of the WebLogic server management framework that exposes internal server credentials for automated deployment and management tasks. Attackers with Operator role access can query these specific MBean attributes through standard management interfaces, bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms that should prevent such access. This flaw violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and principle of least privilege enforcement, as the system fails to properly restrict access to sensitive administrative information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it allows local attackers to escalate their privileges from Operator to Administrator level within the WebLogic environment. Once an attacker obtains these passwords, they can perform any administrative function within the WebLogic server, including deploying malicious applications, modifying server configurations, accessing sensitive data stores, and potentially compromising the entire application infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations running WebLogic Server 8.1 SP1 and earlier versions where proper privilege separation has not been implemented or maintained. This creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by both internal malicious actors and external attackers who have gained access to systems with Operator-level accounts, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to WebLogic Server versions that address this vulnerability, typically versions 8.1 SP2 or later where proper access controls have been implemented. The recommended approach involves enforcing strict MBean access controls and ensuring that administrative credentials are not exposed through management interfaces accessible to users with Operator privileges. Security administrators should review and tighten the privilege model within WebLogic environments, ensuring that the Operator role cannot access sensitive administrative attributes. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unauthorized MBean access attempts can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which covers improper privilege management, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.001 for privilege escalation through abuse of credentials, making it a critical security concern for enterprise application servers.