CVE-2016-3586 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server component in Oracle Fusion Middleware 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.0 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to WLS Core Components, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-3510.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3586 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server's WLS Core Components, affecting multiple versions including 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.0 of the Oracle Fusion Middleware suite. This unspecified vulnerability operates at the core infrastructure level of the web application server, presenting a significant risk to organizations relying on Oracle's middleware solutions for their enterprise applications. The affected WLS Core Components serve as fundamental building blocks for WebLogic Server's functionality, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can potentially compromise the entire server infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit it from external networks without requiring authentication, leveraging the WLS Core Components as attack vectors. This characteristic places the vulnerability squarely within the realm of remote code execution risks, where attackers can manipulate the server's core processes to achieve unauthorized access. The unspecified nature of the flaw suggests it operates through complex interactions within the WebLogic Server's internal architecture, potentially involving memory management, process handling, or component communication mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification as affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability indicates it represents a complete compromise of the system's security posture, enabling attackers to read sensitive data, modify system state, and potentially disrupt service availability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe consequences for enterprise environments that depend on Oracle WebLogic Server for mission-critical applications. Organizations may experience data breaches, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations when this vulnerability is exploited. The remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the internet, making traditional network perimeter defenses insufficient for protection. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of Oracle Fusion Middleware creates widespread exposure across enterprises, requiring coordinated patch management efforts across different server environments. Security teams must also consider the potential for cascading effects, where exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to further compromises within interconnected systems that rely on WebLogic Server.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer," suggesting potential memory corruption or buffer overflow conditions within the WLS Core Components. Additionally, the threat landscape for this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploit public-facing application and T1059 for command and control communications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to WebLogic Server instances, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful planning due to the critical nature of WebLogic Server in enterprise environments, with rollback procedures and comprehensive testing necessary before deployment. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement continuous monitoring to detect anomalous behavior indicative of this vulnerability being targeted.