CVE-2019-2645 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 10.3.6.0.0, 12.1.3.0.0 and 12.2.1.3.0. 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 • 08/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2645 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server's T3 protocol implementation, specifically affecting versions 10.3.6.0.0, 12.1.3.0.0, and 12.2.1.3.0. This vulnerability resides within the WLS Core Components subcomponent of Oracle Fusion Middleware and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the server's authentication mechanisms. The T3 protocol, designed for communication between WebLogic Server instances and clients, has been exploited to bypass authentication requirements entirely, creating a significant entry point for malicious actors seeking to compromise enterprise applications. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal technical expertise or resources to leverage this weakness effectively.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication checks within the T3 protocol handler, allowing attackers to send specially crafted malicious payloads without requiring valid credentials. This flaw operates at the network level, enabling unauthenticated remote exploitation through the T3 protocol port, which typically operates on TCP port 7001 by default. The attack vector specifically targets the T3 protocol communication channel, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from external networks without the need for prior access credentials. According to CWE-287, this vulnerability manifests as an improper authentication issue where the system fails to properly verify the identity of connecting clients, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to critical server functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2645 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can result in complete compromise of the affected WebLogic Server instances. This level of impact encompasses full system takeover capabilities, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the enterprise network. The CVSS 3.0 score of 9.8 reflects the severity of this vulnerability, with high scores across all impact metrics including confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Organizations running affected WebLogic Server versions face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within their networks, as compromised servers can serve as launching points for further attacks against other internal systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Oracle's security updates, as the vendor has released patches specifically addressing this issue. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to T3 protocol ports, particularly from untrusted networks, though this approach provides only partial protection given the vulnerability's nature. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for unusual T3 protocol activity, implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of WebLogic Server configurations. Organizations should also consider disabling the T3 protocol entirely if it is not required for business operations, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's network service scanning techniques. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the Oracle Fusion Middleware stack, as this vulnerability represents a broader class of issues affecting enterprise application servers and their communication protocols.