CVE-2019-2824 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 high privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle WebLogic Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.5 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N).
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2824 resides within Oracle WebLogic Server's WLS Core Components subcomponent, representing a significant security weakness that affects specific version releases including 10.3.6.0.0, 12.1.3.0.0, and 12.2.1.3.0. This vulnerability operates at the core infrastructure level of Oracle Fusion Middleware, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise the foundational components that support enterprise applications and services. The affected versions indicate this is a long-standing issue that persisted across multiple release cycles, suggesting inadequate patching or security review processes within Oracle's development lifecycle. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system classifies this vulnerability as easily exploitable with a base score of 5.5, indicating a moderate to high severity threat level that requires immediate attention from security administrators.
The technical flaw manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that requires an attacker with high privileged access and network connectivity via HTTP to successfully exploit the weakness. This means that while the attack vector is not overly complex, it does require the adversary to already possess elevated credentials or have achieved some level of access within the network environment. The vulnerability's operational impact is substantial, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to critical data within the WebLogic Server environment, potentially exposing sensitive enterprise information. Additionally, attackers can gain unauthorized update, insert, or delete access to data that the server can reach, effectively providing them with complete control over the information system's data integrity. The confidentiality impact is rated as high, while the integrity impact is rated as low, suggesting that data theft is the primary concern rather than data corruption, though the potential for both impacts exists.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic case of insufficient privilege verification within a web application server framework. The attack pattern follows typical privilege escalation methodologies where an attacker leverages existing access to gain additional capabilities, a technique commonly catalogued in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation tactics. Organizations utilizing affected WebLogic Server versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where the server hosts sensitive applications or data repositories. The vulnerability's network accessibility via HTTP makes it particularly attractive to attackers who may be conducting reconnaissance or attempting lateral movement within compromised networks. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining updated middleware components, as outdated versions often contain known security flaws that can be exploited by threat actors with minimal technical skill or resources.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates to address the vulnerability, as well as implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. The recommended approach involves conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments across all WebLogic Server installations to identify affected versions, followed by coordinated patch deployment across the enterprise infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests, implementing web application firewalls, and establishing privileged access management controls to reduce the attack surface. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are identified and remediated before they can be exploited by malicious actors, reinforcing the principle that proactive security measures are essential for protecting enterprise infrastructure against known threats.