CVE-2007-0419 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
The BEA WebLogic Server proxy plug-in before June 2006 for the Apache HTTP Server does not properly handle protocol errors, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server outage).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0419 affects the BEA WebLogic Server proxy plug-in version prior to June 2006 when integrated with Apache HTTP Server. This security flaw represents a classic example of inadequate error handling within a web server proxy component that serves as a critical bridge between client requests and backend application servers. The proxy plug-in functionality enables Apache to forward requests to WebLogic Server instances, making it a fundamental component in enterprise web architectures where load balancing and application delivery are managed through this intermediary layer.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the proxy plug-in's insufficient handling of protocol errors that occur during the communication process between Apache and WebLogic Server. When malformed requests or unexpected protocol conditions arise, the plug-in fails to gracefully manage these error scenarios, leading to abrupt termination or resource exhaustion within the Apache server process. This improper error handling creates a condition where remote attackers can craft specific malicious requests that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the Apache server to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability specifically targets the protocol error handling mechanisms that should normally allow the system to recover from abnormal conditions without compromising overall service availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire application availability within organizations relying on WebLogic Server proxy configurations. When exploited, the denial of service condition can result in complete server outages that affect all users accessing applications through the affected proxy configuration. This represents a significant threat to business continuity and can be particularly damaging in mission-critical environments where application availability is paramount. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the condition from outside the network perimeter without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt services.
Organizations with affected systems should prioritize immediate remediation through patching the BEA WebLogic Server proxy plug-in to version June 2006 or later, which contains the necessary error handling improvements. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns or protocol anomalies can help identify exploitation attempts before they cause service disruption. Security teams should also consider implementing redundant proxy configurations or load balancing strategies to minimize the impact of single points of failure. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-248, which addresses exposure of exception information, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also review their overall web application security posture and ensure proper input validation and error handling practices are implemented across all proxy and middleware components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of their infrastructure.