CVE-2006-0421 in WebLogic
Summary
by MITRE
By design, BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 7.0 and 6.1, when creating multiple domains from the same WebLogic instance on the same machine, allows administrators of any created domain to access other created domains, which could allow administrators to gain privileges that were not intended.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2025
This vulnerability exists in BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express versions 7.0 and 6.1 where multiple domains are created from the same WebLogic instance on the same machine. The fundamental flaw lies in the insufficient isolation mechanisms between domains, allowing administrators of one domain to access and potentially manipulate other domains running on the same system. This design weakness creates a privilege escalation scenario where unauthorized access to domain resources becomes possible. The vulnerability stems from improper separation of domain-specific configurations and administrative privileges, violating the principle of least privilege and domain isolation. According to CWE-276, this represents an inadequate privilege management issue where access controls fail to properly restrict administrative access between different domain instances. The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure to include potential system compromise through unauthorized administrative actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when multiple WebLogic domains are deployed on the same host machine using a single WebLogic installation. Domain administrators typically expect their administrative privileges to be confined to their specific domain environment, but the design flaw allows cross-domain access to configuration files, deployment artifacts, and administrative interfaces. This creates an attack surface where malicious or compromised domain administrators can escalate privileges and access sensitive data from other domains. The vulnerability manifests through the shared file system and configuration mechanisms that do not adequately separate domain-specific resources, enabling unauthorized access to domain-specific administrative functions and configuration parameters. This behavior violates standard security practices outlined in the NIST SP 800-53 security controls for system access control and privilege management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running multiple WebLogic domains on single machines. Administrators may inadvertently expose sensitive applications and data from other domains, leading to potential data breaches and unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform domain hopping attacks where they can move laterally between different domain environments, potentially accessing multiple applications and their associated data. This cross-domain access capability can result in privilege escalation attacks where domain administrators gain access to higher-privilege accounts and system resources. Organizations may face compliance violations and security audit failures due to this lack of proper domain isolation, as it violates fundamental security requirements for multi-tenant environments and application isolation. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of domain-specific security policies and access controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper domain isolation mechanisms and administrative privilege controls. Organizations should consider deploying separate WebLogic instances for each domain rather than sharing a single instance, which provides better isolation between domain environments. Additionally, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for administrative activities across domains can help detect unauthorized access attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential cross-domain access paths. The implementation of network segmentation and firewall rules can further restrict access between different domain environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where attackers exploit insufficient access control to gain unauthorized access to domain resources. Organizations should also ensure proper patch management and consider migrating to supported WebLogic versions that address this design flaw. Configuration reviews should verify that domain-specific administrative privileges are properly restricted and that no unnecessary cross-domain access permissions exist.