CVE-2017-3239 in GlassFish Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle GlassFish Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Administration). Supported versions that are affected are 3.0.1 and 3.1.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Oracle GlassFish Server executes to compromise Oracle GlassFish Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle GlassFish Server accessible data. CVSS v3.0 Base Score 3.3 (Confidentiality impacts).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3239 resides within Oracle GlassFish Server, a widely deployed application server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware that serves as a foundational element for enterprise web applications. This specific weakness manifests in the Administration subcomponent of GlassFish Server, affecting versions 3.0.1 and 3.1.2 which were actively supported during the affected timeframe. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it operates within the administrative interface that governs server operations and configuration management, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to compromise enterprise infrastructure. The affected versions indicate this was a long-standing issue that persisted across multiple releases, suggesting inadequate security testing or patch management processes within Oracle's development lifecycle.
The technical flaw constitutes a privilege escalation vulnerability that operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-284, specifically involving improper access control mechanisms within the administrative subsystem. Attackers with legitimate login credentials to the server infrastructure can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the GlassFish Server environment. The vulnerability's exploitability is characterized as easily accessible, meaning that the attack vector requires minimal sophistication or specialized tools beyond basic network access and existing authentication credentials. The attack requires only a low privileged user account to execute the exploit, which significantly reduces the barrier to successful compromise and makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls may not be properly enforced.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3239 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables unauthorized read access to a subset of data that is accessible through the GlassFish Server administrative interface. This compromise can potentially expose sensitive configuration information, application deployment details, user credentials, and other administrative data that could be leveraged for further attacks within the enterprise network. The CVSS v3.0 base score of 3.3 reflects the relatively low severity impact, yet this assessment understates the potential for cascading security failures that could occur when administrative access is compromised. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, as it enables unauthorized data disclosure without necessarily causing system availability disruption or integrity compromise, though the potential for further exploitation remains significant.
Organizations utilizing affected GlassFish Server versions should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Oracle Critical Patch Updates that address this vulnerability, implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and enforcing strict access controls for administrative accounts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation sub-technique that involves exploiting vulnerabilities in software to gain elevated access rights. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected GlassFish Server versions within their infrastructure and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network-based controls such as firewall rules that restrict administrative access to trusted networks and establishing robust audit logging for administrative activities can significantly reduce the risk exposure associated with this vulnerability.