CVE-2004-2424 in WebLogic
Summary
by MITRE
BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 8.1 through 8.1 SP2 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (network port comsumption) via unknown actions in HTTPS sessions, which prevents the server from releasing the network port when the session ends.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2424 affects BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express versions 8.1 through 8.1 SP2, representing a critical denial of service weakness that exploits network resource management flaws within the HTTPS session handling mechanisms. This vulnerability resides in the server's inability to properly release network ports upon session termination, creating a persistent resource leak that can be exploited by remote attackers to consume available network connections and ultimately exhaust system resources. The flaw specifically manifests during HTTPS session processing where the server maintains network port allocations even after the session has logically completed, effectively creating a port exhaustion condition that prevents legitimate connections from being established. This issue directly impacts the availability of the web application services hosted on these platforms and represents a fundamental failure in connection lifecycle management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of network socket resources within the WebLogic server's HTTPS session processing pipeline. When HTTPS sessions are established and subsequently terminated, the server's internal resource management logic fails to properly close and release the associated network ports back to the system's available port pool. This resource leak occurs because the server maintains references to network connections in memory or connection tables even after session completion, preventing the operating system from reclaiming the associated network ports. The flaw operates at the transport layer level where TCP connections are managed, and the improper resource cleanup creates a cumulative effect where repeated attacks can quickly exhaust the available port space. This behavior aligns with CWE-404, which addresses improper resource release or unbalanced resource management, specifically within the context of network socket handling and connection management.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2424 extends beyond simple service disruption to create a systemic threat to web application availability and system stability. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by establishing multiple HTTPS sessions and then allowing them to timeout or terminate without proper cleanup, gradually consuming all available network ports on the server. This port exhaustion prevents new legitimate HTTPS connections from being established, effectively rendering the web application inaccessible to users and potentially causing cascading failures in dependent services. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it a prime target for automated attacks and DoS campaigns. The impact is exacerbated in high-traffic environments where the server's port pool is already constrained, as the vulnerability can be triggered with relatively minimal effort to cause significant service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2424 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements to prevent resource leaks in connection handling. Organizations should implement connection timeout configurations that enforce aggressive cleanup of inactive sessions, along with monitoring systems that track port usage and alert on unusual patterns of connection exhaustion. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor patch released for WebLogic Server 8.1 SP3, which addresses the underlying resource management flaw in the HTTPS session handling code. System administrators should also configure connection pooling parameters to limit the maximum number of concurrent connections and implement network-level rate limiting to prevent exploitation through automated attack tools. Additionally, implementing proper network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to the web server can help limit the impact of such attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource lifecycle management in server applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion, emphasizing the need for robust connection management and proper resource cleanup mechanisms in enterprise web applications.