CVE-2018-3252 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware (subcomponent: WLS Core Components). Supported versions that are affected are 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0 and 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).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3252 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server's T3 protocol implementation, specifically affecting versions 10.3.6.0, 12.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.3. This vulnerability resides within the WLS Core Components subcomponent of Oracle Fusion Middleware and demonstrates a significant weakness in the server's authentication mechanisms. The T3 protocol, which is used for communication between WebLogic Server instances and clients, has been exploited to allow unauthorized access without requiring any credentials or authentication tokens. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles by enabling attackers to establish connections and execute malicious operations against the target server.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication checks within the T3 protocol handler. Attackers can leverage this weakness by sending specially crafted T3 protocol messages over the network to the target WebLogic Server instance. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 9.8 indicates its severe impact across all three core security properties - confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack requires minimal privileges with network access and no authentication, making it highly dangerous for organizations that expose WebLogic Server instances to untrusted networks. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocols.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3252 extends far beyond simple data theft or service disruption. Successful exploitation enables attackers to achieve complete system compromise of the WebLogic Server instance, allowing them to execute arbitrary code, modify server configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. Organizations running affected WebLogic Server versions face the risk of complete infrastructure takeover, particularly when servers are exposed to public networks or lack proper network segmentation. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation means that automated attack tools can readily target exposed instances, making it a prime target for opportunistic attackers. This compromise can lead to cascading effects throughout enterprise networks, especially when WebLogic Servers are used as integration points between different systems or when they host critical business applications.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the official Oracle Critical Patch Update (CPU) patches that address CVE-2018-3252, which are available through Oracle's security advisory channels. Network-level protections should include blocking T3 protocol access at firewalls and implementing strict network segmentation to prevent unauthorized access to WebLogic Server instances. Organizations should also consider disabling T3 protocol entirely if it is not required for legitimate business operations, as this protocol is primarily used for internal server communication rather than external client access. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual T3 protocol traffic patterns and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all potentially exposed WebLogic Server instances within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated attacks targeting enterprise application servers.