CVE-2005-4704 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 8.1 through SP3, 7.0 through SP6, and 6.1 through SP7, when SSL is intended to be used, causes an unencrypted protocol to be used in certain unspecified circumstances, which causes user credentials to be sent across the network in cleartext and allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2019
This vulnerability affects BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express versions 8.1 through SP3, 7.0 through SP6, and 6.1 through SP7 when SSL is intended to be used but fails to properly implement encryption. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the intended cryptographic protection mechanisms within the application server platform. The vulnerability manifests when certain unspecified circumstances occur, causing the system to fall back to unencrypted communication protocols despite SSL being configured and intended for use.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper SSL handling within the WebLogic Server architecture, specifically related to how the system manages protocol selection and encryption enforcement. When SSL is configured for secure communication but fails to maintain the encrypted state, the application server continues to process sensitive data using cleartext protocols. This behavior creates a downgrade attack scenario where authentication credentials, user session information, and potentially other sensitive data are transmitted without encryption across network boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-310 as "Cryptographic Issues" with specific implications for protocol security and encryption enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, representing a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and capture user credentials as they traverse the network in cleartext format, enabling unauthorized access to protected systems and applications. The ability to gain privileges through credential interception directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on WebLogic Server for enterprise application deployment, as it undermines the security assurances provided by SSL/TLS encryption and creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks and credential harvesting.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant security patches provided by BEA/Oracle, reviewing and enforcing proper SSL configuration settings, and implementing network monitoring to detect potential cleartext credential transmission. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential harvesting through network interception. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, mandatory encryption policies, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The incident highlights the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the potential consequences of protocol downgrade vulnerabilities in enterprise application servers.