CVE-2005-4759 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 8.1 and 7.0, during a migration across operating system platforms, do not warn the administrative user about platform differences in URLResource case sensitivity, which might cause local users to inadvertently lose protection of Web Application pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4759 affects BEA WebLogic Server versions 7.0 and 8.1, as well as WebLogic Express 7.0 and 8.1, specifically during cross-platform migration scenarios. This issue represents a critical configuration and operational security flaw that stems from inadequate handling of platform-specific characteristics during system transitions. The vulnerability manifests when administrators migrate web applications from one operating system to another, particularly when the source and target platforms exhibit different URL resource case sensitivity behaviors.
The technical flaw lies in the migration process where WebLogic Server fails to alert administrators about the fundamental differences in how various operating systems handle URL case sensitivity. Unix-based systems typically maintain case-sensitive URL handling, while Windows systems traditionally operate with case-insensitive URL resolution. When administrators perform migrations without proper awareness of these platform differences, the application's security mechanisms can become compromised. The system does not automatically adjust or warn about the potential for case-insensitive URL resolution on the target platform, which can result in previously protected web application pages becoming accessible without proper authentication.
This vulnerability creates significant operational impact by potentially allowing unauthorized local users to access web application pages that were intended to be protected. The loss of protection occurs because the migration process does not account for the platform-specific case sensitivity differences that affect URL resolution and access control mechanisms. When a case-insensitive platform receives a case-sensitive configuration or when the reverse occurs, the application's security controls may fail to properly enforce access restrictions, leading to potential information disclosure or unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where administrative users may not be fully aware of the underlying platform differences or their implications for security controls.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-691, which addresses insufficient protection of web application resources, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078.101 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering through application migration processes. Organizations should implement comprehensive migration testing procedures that include platform-specific case sensitivity validation, ensure administrative users receive proper training on cross-platform security implications, and establish automated warnings for critical configuration changes during migration processes. Additionally, regular security assessments should verify that access controls remain effective across different platform environments, and that proper case sensitivity handling is maintained in all web application security configurations.