CVE-2016-5528 in GlassFish Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle GlassFish Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Security). Supported versions that are affected are 2.1.1, 3.0.1 and 3.1.2. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle GlassFish Server. While the vulnerability is in Oracle GlassFish Server, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle GlassFish Server. CVSS v3.0 Base Score 9.0 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5528 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle GlassFish Server, specifically within the Security subcomponent of Oracle Fusion Middleware. This vulnerability affects multiple versions including 2.1.1, 3.0.1, and 3.1.2, making it a widespread concern for organizations utilizing these server configurations. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires some level of technical expertise to leverage, the attack surface remains significant due to the server's role as a foundational middleware component in enterprise environments. The CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.0 reflects the severity of potential impacts, encompassing confidentiality, integrity, and availability breaches that could fundamentally compromise the security posture of affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the GlassFish Server security framework, allowing unauthenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access through multiple network protocols. This flaw essentially creates a backdoor that bypasses normal authentication procedures, enabling malicious actors to compromise the server without requiring valid credentials. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate GlassFish Server instance, as noted in the description, potentially affecting additional Oracle products that may be integrated within the same middleware ecosystem. This interconnected nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation could lead to cascading security failures across an organization's infrastructure, particularly in environments where GlassFish Server serves as a critical integration point for various enterprise applications.
The operational implications of CVE-2016-5528 are severe and multifaceted, with successful exploitation potentially resulting in complete server takeover. This level of compromise would allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially use the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The availability impact is particularly concerning as attackers could potentially disrupt services through denial-of-service attacks or by corrupting system files, leading to significant business disruption. Organizations utilizing affected versions of GlassFish Server face the risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5528 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Oracle's security updates, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to GlassFish Server instances, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity, and conduct thorough security assessments of their middleware environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation. Additional defensive measures include implementing strong network access controls, regularly monitoring server logs for unauthorized access attempts, and establishing robust incident response procedures to quickly address potential exploitation attempts. Given the CVSS score and the potential for widespread impact, organizations should treat this vulnerability as a critical priority requiring immediate attention and remediation across all affected systems.