CVE-2005-4756 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 8.1 SP4 and earlier, and 7.0 SP5 and earlier, do not properly validate derived Principals with multiple PrincipalValidators, which might allow attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4756 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express versions 8.1 SP4 and earlier, as well as 7.0 SP5 and earlier. This issue stems from improper validation of derived principals within the authentication framework, specifically when multiple principal validators are configured within the system. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the authentication process by crafting specially formatted principal objects that bypass normal security checks, potentially enabling unauthorized access to protected resources.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation mechanisms employed by the WebLogic authentication subsystem when processing principal objects that are derived from multiple sources or validators. When the system encounters principal objects that have been processed through multiple validation steps, it fails to properly verify the integrity and authenticity of the final principal state. This weakness creates a path where an attacker can construct a principal object that appears valid to one validator while simultaneously bypassing the checks imposed by other validators in the chain. The vulnerability specifically affects the principal validation logic within the security framework, which is designed to ensure that authentication credentials are properly validated across multiple security layers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can gain unauthorized access to sensitive application data, perform administrative functions, or establish persistent access to the web application infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the authentication layer, meaning that successful exploitation can bypass application-level security controls and potentially provide access to underlying system resources. This type of flaw directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to move laterally within network environments where WebLogic servers are deployed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient validation of security-relevant inputs.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4756 should prioritize immediate patching of affected WebLogic server versions, as BEA released security updates specifically addressing this authentication bypass vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including restricting network access to WebLogic servers, implementing proper firewall rules, and ensuring that authentication mechanisms are properly configured to prevent multiple validator bypass scenarios. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or attempts to manipulate principal objects within the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication frameworks, particularly in enterprise application servers where multiple authentication mechanisms may be in operation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential authentication bypass exploits. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for security reviews of authentication frameworks and proper validation of security-relevant inputs, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting.