CVE-2005-1747 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in BEA WebLogic Server and Express 8.1 through Service Pack 4, and 7.0 through Service Pack 6, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML, and possibly gain administrative privileges, via the (1) j_username or (2) j_password parameters in the login page (LoginForm.jsp), (3) parameters to the error page in the Administration Console, (4) unknown vectors in the Server Console while the administrator has an active session to obtain the ADMINCONSOLESESSION cookie, or (5) an alternate vector in the Server Console that does not require an active session but also leaks the username and password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1747 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting BEA WebLogic Server and Express versions 7.0 through Service Pack 6 and 8.1 through Service Pack 4. This vulnerability exposes multiple attack vectors that collectively enable remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected web applications, potentially leading to privilege escalation and complete system compromise. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the WebLogic Server's authentication and administrative interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through several distinct entry points within the WebLogic Server's web console infrastructure. The primary attack vectors include the j_username and j_password parameters in the LoginForm.jsp page, where user-supplied credentials are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. Additionally, the error page within the Administration Console contains vulnerable parameters that can be exploited to inject malicious scripts. The vulnerability extends to the Server Console itself, where active sessions can be exploited to obtain ADMINCONSOLESESSION cookies through XSS attacks. Furthermore, an alternate vector exists that can leak username and password information without requiring an active session, making the attack surface even more extensive.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1747 is severe and multifaceted, as it can be leveraged to establish persistent access to administrative interfaces and potentially escalate privileges to full administrative control. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of authenticated users, potentially gaining access to sensitive administrative functions and data. The ability to inject scripts into the authentication flow means that attackers can capture login credentials, while the session cookie leakage capability allows for session hijacking attacks. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering or exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected WebLogic Server versions, as BEA released security updates addressing these specific XSS flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures throughout the application stack, particularly for all parameters handled by the Administration Console. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while implementing proper HTTP headers such as Content Security Policy can help prevent script execution. Regular security assessments and code reviews should focus on authentication flows and administrative interfaces to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include disabling unnecessary administrative features, implementing strong session management, and establishing monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in enterprise web applications and highlights how seemingly minor input validation gaps can lead to severe security consequences. The interconnected nature of the attack vectors emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing across all application components, particularly those handling user authentication and administrative functions. Organizations should maintain up-to-date vulnerability management processes and ensure rapid deployment of security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities in widely used enterprise software platforms.