CVE-2005-0432 in WebLogic
Summary
by MITRE
BEA WebLogic Server 7.0 Service Pack 5 and earlier, and 8.1 Service Pack 3 and earlier, generates different login exceptions that suggest why an authentication attempt fails, which makes it easier for remote attackers to guess passwords via brute force attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2021
BEA WebLogic Server versions 7.0 Service Pack 5 and earlier, along with 8.1 Service Pack 3 and earlier, contain a critical authentication flaw that significantly weakens security through improper error handling during login attempts. This vulnerability stems from the server's tendency to return different error messages depending on whether a username exists or whether a password is incorrect, creating a situation where attackers can distinguish between non-existent accounts and valid accounts with wrong passwords. The flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that directly enables credential stuffing and brute force attacks by providing attackers with actionable feedback about their authentication attempts. This weakness aligns with CWE-209, which addresses the improper handling of exceptions and error messages that reveal sensitive information to attackers. The vulnerability creates a direct pathway for attackers to enumerate valid users within the system, as they can systematically test usernames and receive different responses for valid versus invalid accounts, effectively reducing the complexity of password guessing attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the authentication layer where WebLogic Server's security subsystem returns distinct exception messages to client applications. When an authentication attempt fails, the server provides different responses based on the nature of the failure - either indicating that the username does not exist or that the username exists but the password is incorrect. This differential response mechanism allows attackers to perform account enumeration attacks, where they can determine which usernames are valid within the system by observing the server's response behavior. The impact extends beyond simple password guessing to include account takeover scenarios, as attackers can systematically identify valid accounts and then focus their brute force efforts on those specific accounts. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which covers credential stuffing attacks, and represents a fundamental flaw in the server's authentication protocol design that violates security best practices for secure error handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations running affected WebLogic Server versions, as it provides attackers with a clear methodology for bypassing authentication controls through automated tools and scripts. Attackers can leverage this information to build targeted attack campaigns that focus on valid user accounts rather than wasting resources on invalid ones, significantly increasing the success rate of brute force attacks. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the authentication system, as it allows unauthorized access to systems that should be protected by proper authentication mechanisms. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability also creates compliance issues for organizations that must adhere to security standards such as pci dss, which require proper authentication handling and protection against brute force attacks. The attack surface is particularly broad since WebLogic Server is commonly used in enterprise environments for mission-critical applications, making this vulnerability a high-priority target for threat actors seeking to exploit weak authentication controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper error handling that provides consistent responses regardless of whether a username exists or whether a password is correct. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of WebLogic Server that address this specific authentication flaw, as BEA released updates specifically designed to normalize error responses during authentication attempts. Additional mitigations include implementing account lockout mechanisms, enforcing strong password policies, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for brute force patterns, and configuring network-level restrictions to limit authentication attempts from suspicious sources. The implementation of multi-factor authentication can also provide additional layers of protection against credential-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting at the application level to prevent automated tools from performing rapid authentication attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of account enumeration patterns and unusual authentication behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security design principles, particularly in authentication systems where error handling must not reveal information that could aid attackers in their efforts to compromise systems.