CVE-2018-3201 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: WLS Core Components). The supported version that is affected is 12.2.1.3. 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 3.0 Base Score 9.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3201 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server version 12.2.1.3, specifically within the WLS Core Components subcomponent. This vulnerability resides in the T3 protocol implementation which is used for communication between WebLogic Server instances and clients. The T3 protocol operates on TCP port 7001 by default and provides a binary communication channel for various administrative and operational functions. The flaw allows an attacker to exploit the server without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it eliminates the need for initial access or credential compromise. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control mechanisms, specifically in the context of network-based protocol implementations.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2018-3201 occurs through the T3 protocol's deserialization functionality, which processes incoming serialized Java objects without proper validation. When an attacker sends a specially crafted malicious payload to the WebLogic Server listening on the T3 port, the server's deserialization mechanism executes arbitrary code with the privileges of the WebLogic process. This occurs because the server fails to validate the contents of serialized objects before deserializing them, creating a classic deserialization vulnerability that enables remote code execution. The vulnerability's exploitability is rated as easily exploitable due to the lack of authentication requirements and the straightforward nature of the attack vector through network access. The CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the high severity impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, indicating that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass full system takeover capabilities that can lead to data breaches, service disruption, and complete compromise of the affected infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain administrative control over the WebLogic Server instance, allowing them to deploy malicious applications, extract sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects organizations running Oracle WebLogic Server 12.2.1.3 in production environments, particularly those with exposed T3 ports or those that have not properly restricted network access. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where WebLogic servers often serve as core components in application infrastructure, potentially providing attackers with access to critical business applications and databases. The lack of authentication requirements means that this vulnerability can be exploited by anyone with network access to the affected server, making it a prime target for automated attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network-level restrictions to block access to T3 ports from untrusted networks, disabling T3 protocol entirely if not required for operations, and applying the relevant Oracle patches as soon as they become available. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1071 (Application Layer Protocol) as attackers can leverage the T3 protocol to execute commands and establish persistence. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the WebLogic server's T3 ports to only trusted administrative networks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual T3 protocol traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software, while application whitelisting and runtime protection mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical enterprise infrastructure from similar threats.