CVE-2007-4618 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in BEA WebLogic Server 6.1 Gold through SP7 and 7.0 Gold through SP7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (disk consumption) via certain malformed HTTP headers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4618 represents a critical denial of service weakness within BEA WebLogic Server versions 6.1 through SP7 and 7.0 through SP7. This flaw specifically targets the server's handling of HTTP headers, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit the system's response to malformed input to consume excessive disk resources. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of insufficient input validation, which is classified as CWE-20 by the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack vector operates over the network and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote unauthenticated adversaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the WebLogic Server's inadequate parsing and validation mechanisms for HTTP headers received from client connections. When the server encounters malformed HTTP headers that do not conform to expected standards or protocols, the parsing routine fails to properly handle these inputs, leading to the creation of excessive temporary files or log entries on the disk. This process continues iteratively with each malicious request, causing progressive disk space exhaustion that ultimately results in service disruption. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of resource exhaustion attack patterns that align with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the resource exhaustion tactic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can effectively render the entire WebLogic server instance unusable by consuming all available disk space. Organizations running affected WebLogic Server versions face significant risk of business disruption, particularly in environments where disk space is limited or where the server handles critical enterprise applications. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials. This characteristic makes it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to disrupt services without leaving obvious traces of compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4618 should prioritize immediate patching of affected WebLogic Server installations to the latest service packs and security updates provided by Oracle. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual HTTP header patterns and automated rate limiting to prevent exploitation. Additionally, system administrators should configure disk space monitoring alerts and implement proper log rotation policies to minimize the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes, as it represents a failure in the server's input validation that could have been addressed through proper code review and testing procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls or web application firewalls that can filter out malformed HTTP headers before they reach the WebLogic server instance.