CVE-2017-3248 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Core Components). Supported versions that are affected are 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0, 12.2.1.0 and 12.2.1.1. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via T3 to compromise Oracle WebLogic Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle WebLogic Server. CVSS v3.0 Base Score 9.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3248 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server's Core Components subsystem, specifically affecting versions 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0, 12.2.1.0, and 12.2.1.1. This weakness resides in the T3 protocol implementation which serves as a binary protocol for communication between WebLogic Server instances and clients. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this flaw without requiring authentication credentials or specialized privileges, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such services are exposed to untrusted networks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the T3 protocol handler, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can trigger remote code execution capabilities. When processed by the affected WebLogic Server instances, these malformed T3 requests can lead to complete system compromise, enabling adversaries to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the WebLogic Server process. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires only network connectivity to the target server's T3 port, typically port 7001 or other configured T3 endpoints, making it accessible to attackers from external networks without the need for prior access or credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3248 extends beyond simple system compromise, as successful exploitation can result in full control over the affected WebLogic Server instance. This includes the ability to access sensitive data, modify application configurations, deploy malicious applications, and potentially use the compromised server as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network infrastructure. The CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.8 reflects the severity of this vulnerability, indicating high impact across all three core security principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract confidential information from the server, corrupt data integrity through unauthorized modifications, and disrupt service availability by causing system crashes or resource exhaustion.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to T3 ports, disabling the T3 protocol entirely if not required for business operations, and applying Oracle's security patches as soon as they become available. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a significant concern for organizations following ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and script injection. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious T3 protocol traffic patterns and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected WebLogic Server versions within their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly.