CVE-2007-4617 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in BEA WebLogic Server 6.1 Gold through SP7, 7.0 Gold through SP7, and 8.1 Gold through SP4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server thread hang) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4617 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting BEA WebLogic Server versions 6.1 through 8.1 across multiple service packs. This weakness resides within the server's thread management and processing mechanisms, creating a potential avenue for remote attackers to disrupt service availability. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways could potentially trigger the server thread hanging behavior, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals who must account for various attack surface possibilities. The vulnerability affects a broad range of WebLogic Server deployments, spanning from the Gold release through the final service packs, indicating this was a persistent issue that required ongoing attention throughout the server's lifecycle.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through server thread hanging conditions that effectively consume system resources and prevent legitimate requests from being processed. When exploited, the flaw causes server threads to become unresponsive or stuck in processing loops, creating a cascading effect that can lead to complete service unavailability. This behavior aligns with common denial of service patterns where system resources are consumed in a manner that prevents normal operational functions. The vulnerability operates at the application server level, affecting the core threading model and request processing capabilities that form the foundation of WebLogic Server's operational integrity. The lack of specific vector details in the original description indicates that multiple attack scenarios could potentially trigger this condition, including malformed requests, specific protocol sequences, or crafted input parameters that cause the server to enter an indefinite waiting state.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on BEA WebLogic Server for critical business applications. The server thread hanging condition can result in complete service disruption, requiring manual intervention to restart server processes and potentially leading to extended downtime periods. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from external networks without requiring physical access or local system privileges, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. Organizations may experience cascading effects where the denial of service impacts dependent systems, customer-facing applications, and business continuity operations. The vulnerability's presence across multiple versions suggests that it was a fundamental architectural issue rather than a simple patchable bug, requiring comprehensive remediation strategies across affected deployments.
Security mitigations for CVE-2007-4617 should prioritize immediate patch application from Oracle, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions within the WebLogic Server family. Organizations should implement network-level controls including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of resource monitoring solutions can help detect thread exhaustion conditions before they result in complete service outages. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying application firewalls and web application security controls to filter potentially malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable server components. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would likely fall under CWE-400, which encompasses unspecified vulnerabilities related to resource management and system stability. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1499.004, specifically targeting network denial of service through server resource exhaustion, potentially combined with T1595.001 for reconnaissance activities that might identify vulnerable targets. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant systems and failover mechanisms to maintain availability during potential exploitation attempts.