CVE-2018-2935 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: JSF). Supported versions that are affected are 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0, 12.2.1.2 and 12.2.1.3. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle WebLogic Server. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data as well as unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all 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 8.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2935 resides within Oracle WebLogic Server's JavaServer Faces (JSF) component, representing a critical security flaw that affects multiple versions including 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0, 12.2.1.2, and 12.2.1.3. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the JSF framework implementation within Oracle Fusion Middleware, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive server resources. The flaw manifests as an insufficient input validation issue that allows malicious actors to manipulate the server's processing of user-supplied data through HTTP requests, effectively bypassing authentication mechanisms that should normally protect critical system components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to send specially crafted HTTP requests to the affected WebLogic Server instances without requiring any prior authentication credentials. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the target server. The attack vector operates through the HTTP protocol, leveraging the JSF component's handling of input parameters that do not properly validate or sanitize user-provided data before processing. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable stems from the minimal technical skill required to craft the malicious requests and the lack of authentication barriers during the exploitation phase.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2018-2935 can result in severe consequences for affected organizations. Attackers can gain unauthorized access to critical data stored within the WebLogic Server environment, including the ability to create, delete, or modify sensitive information. The vulnerability also permits complete access to all data accessible through the affected server, potentially exposing confidential business information, user credentials, or proprietary data. Additionally, the attack can cause partial denial of service conditions that disrupt normal server operations, impacting business continuity and availability of critical applications. The CVSS 3.0 score of 8.3 reflects the high severity of this vulnerability, with impacts rated as high for confidentiality, integrity, and availability, demonstrating the comprehensive scope of potential damage.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as the underlying weakness, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1071 for Application Layer Protocol. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise, as the flaw allows for both data manipulation and unauthorized access. The requirement for human interaction indicates that the attack may involve social engineering elements where users inadvertently trigger the vulnerability through legitimate system interactions. This makes the threat more complex as it combines technical exploitation with user behavior manipulation. The security implications extend beyond immediate data compromise to include potential lateral movement within networks and extended attack chains that could leverage the compromised server as a foothold for further infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2935 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle WebLogic Server versions with the relevant security updates released by Oracle. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to WebLogic Server instances and deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP requests. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary HTTP methods, implementing strict input validation controls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application stack. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous patterns in HTTP traffic that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical enterprise infrastructure components.