CVE-2005-4754 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 8.1 SP3 and earlier allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information (intranet IP addresses) via unknown attack vectors involving "network address translation."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4754 affects BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express versions 8.1 SP3 and earlier, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that could expose internal network infrastructure details to remote attackers. This vulnerability specifically manifests through network address translation mechanisms, creating a pathway for threat actors to discover intranet IP addresses that should remain hidden from external access. The flaw exploits the way these web application servers handle network translation processes, potentially allowing unauthorized parties to map internal network topology and identify sensitive internal systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes information exposure flaws that occur when systems inadvertently reveal sensitive data to unauthorized users. The attack vector involves manipulation of network address translation processes where the weblogic servers fail to properly sanitize or restrict the exposure of internal IP address information. This occurs during normal network operations when the servers process requests through NAT mechanisms, potentially logging or responding with internal addressing information that should remain confidential. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the server's network handling protocols and its interaction with translation services.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on BEA WebLogic servers as they may inadvertently expose their internal network structure to external threat actors. The disclosure of intranet IP addresses provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance information that could facilitate subsequent attacks, including port scanning, targeted exploitation of internal systems, and network mapping activities. This information disclosure could enable attackers to bypass certain network security controls and focus their efforts on specific internal targets. The vulnerability essentially undermines network segmentation strategies and can significantly weaken an organization's overall security posture by revealing internal addressing schemes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates released for this vulnerability, configuring proper network access controls to restrict unnecessary exposure of internal addressing information, and implementing network segmentation strategies that limit the exposure of internal IP ranges. Network administrators should also consider implementing firewalls and access control lists that prevent unauthorized access to internal network information and ensure that network address translation processes are properly configured to not expose internal addressing details. The mitigation approach should align with the principle of least privilege and follow security best practices outlined in frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards. Additionally, regular security assessments and network monitoring should be implemented to detect any potential exploitation attempts or unauthorized access to internal addressing information.