CVE-2006-2464 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
stopWebLogic.sh in BEA WebLogic Server 8.1 before Service Pack 4 and 7.0 before Service Pack 6 displays the administrator password to stdout when executed, which allows local users to obtain the password by viewing a local display.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2464 represents a critical security flaw in BEA WebLogic Server versions 8.1 prior to Service Pack 4 and 7.0 prior to Service Pack 6. This issue specifically affects the stopWebLogic.sh script which is used to terminate WebLogic Server instances. The flaw stems from improper handling of sensitive authentication credentials during the script execution process, creating an unintended information disclosure vulnerability that directly compromises the security posture of the affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the stopWebLogic.sh script inadvertently outputting administrative credentials to standard output streams during execution. When the script runs, it contains code that prints the administrator password to stdout, making it visible to any local user who has access to the system's display or can capture the output. This behavior violates fundamental security principles by exposing privileged authentication information through insecure output mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local users to obtain administrative credentials without requiring any sophisticated attack techniques or network access. The exposure occurs at the local system level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any user with local access to the system, including malicious insiders or attackers who have already gained local footholds. This creates a significant risk for organizations where local system access is not strictly controlled or monitored, potentially allowing unauthorized users to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the WebLogic Server instances.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1003 technique for Credential Access, specifically targeting credential dumping through insecure output mechanisms. This vulnerability also relates to T1059 for execution through command-line interfaces and T1068 for privilege escalation through local administrative access. The impact is particularly severe because it requires no network connectivity, no authentication bypass, and no complex exploitation techniques, making it highly attractive to attackers who have already established local access to the target system.
Organizations should immediately apply the relevant service packs to address this vulnerability, as BEA WebLogic Server versions 8.1 Service Pack 4 and 7.0 Service Pack 6 contain the necessary patches to prevent the password disclosure. Additional mitigations include implementing strict local access controls to limit who can execute scripts on the system, monitoring for unauthorized script execution, and conducting regular security audits to identify other potential information disclosure vulnerabilities in system administration scripts. System administrators should also review and modify any custom scripts that might expose sensitive information, ensuring that all credential handling follows secure coding practices that prevent sensitive data from being written to standard output streams.