CVE-2017-3531 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Servlet Runtime). Supported versions that are affected are 12.1.3.0, 12.2.1.0, 12.2.1.1 and 12.2.1.2. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle WebLogic Server. While the vulnerability is in Oracle WebLogic Server, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle WebLogic Server. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.2 (Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3531 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server's Servlet Runtime component, specifically affecting versions 12.1.3.0, 12.2.1.0, 12.2.1.1, and 12.2.1.2. This vulnerability resides within Oracle Fusion Middleware's servlet runtime environment, making it particularly dangerous as it affects a fundamental component that handles HTTP requests and responses. The flaw's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal technical expertise to leverage this weakness, making it a significant concern for organizations running affected WebLogic Server instances. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate WebLogic Server environment, potentially affecting related Oracle products and systems that depend on the server's functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the servlet runtime processing mechanism, allowing attackers to manipulate HTTP requests in ways that bypass normal authentication and authorization controls. This flaw enables unauthenticated attackers with network access to exploit the system, which aligns with CWE-20, representing weaknesses in input validation. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.0 score of 7.2 reflects the balance between its accessibility and the potential damage it can inflict, with integrity and availability impacts rated as high. The attack vector AV:N indicates network-based exploitation is possible, while the low attack complexity AC:L and lack of required privileges PR:N demonstrate how accessible this vulnerability is to threat actors. The scope of the vulnerability is classified as C, indicating it can affect additional products beyond the primary target, which is characteristic of cascading security issues in enterprise middleware environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3531 is substantial and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to perform unauthorized data manipulation operations including updates, inserts, and deletes within the WebLogic Server's accessible data stores. This data integrity compromise can lead to information tampering, data loss, or unauthorized modifications that could severely impact business operations. Additionally, the vulnerability enables partial denial of service conditions, which can disrupt application availability and potentially affect downstream systems that rely on the WebLogic Server for processing. The combination of integrity and availability impacts makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where data consistency and system uptime are critical. Organizations may experience cascading failures as this vulnerability can compromise not just the WebLogic Server but also related Oracle applications and services that depend on the server's functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3531 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle WebLogic Server versions to address the underlying input validation flaw. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions such as firewall rules to limit access to WebLogic Server ports and HTTP endpoints, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to ensure that only authorized systems can communicate with the WebLogic Server instances. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any additional systems that might be affected by this vulnerability's scope. The implementation of intrusion detection systems and regular security audits can help identify and respond to exploitation attempts before they cause significant damage. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1070 (Indicator Removal on Host), requiring both network-level protection and post-exploitation monitoring capabilities to effectively defend against attacks leveraging this weakness.