CVE-2018-2902 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: Console). Supported versions that are affected are 10.3.6.0 and 12.1.3.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle WebLogic Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2902 resides within Oracle WebLogic Server's console component, representing a significant security weakness in Oracle Fusion Middleware that affects specific version releases. This flaw manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that enables attackers with minimal privileges to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the server environment. The affected versions 10.3.6.0 and 12.1.3.0 represent critical targets for exploitation due to their widespread deployment across enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Oracle's middleware solutions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the WebLogic Server console interface, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and access restricted data repositories. The vulnerability operates through HTTP network connections, requiring only basic network access to exploit, which significantly reduces the attack surface and increases the likelihood of successful compromise. This weakness falls under the CWE category of insufficient access control, specifically CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software applications. The attack vector requires low privileges and leverages the server's HTTP interface, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for organizations utilizing affected WebLogic Server versions, as successful exploitation results in unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the server environment. The confidentiality impact rating of 4.3 on the CVSS scale indicates that while the vulnerability does not allow for data modification or system compromise, it provides attackers with access to potentially sensitive information that could be used for further attacks or corporate espionage. The affected data subset could include configuration details, user credentials, application data, or system information that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates, implementing network segmentation to limit access to WebLogic Server instances, and configuring strict firewall rules to restrict HTTP access to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability's low complexity and network accessibility make it particularly attractive to automated attack tools, necessitating proactive security measures. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their WebLogic Server deployments to identify and remediate all affected instances. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems and monitoring for unusual HTTP access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging weak access control mechanisms, making it essential for security operations to understand both the technical implementation and strategic implications of such vulnerabilities in enterprise security postures.