CVE-2020-14757 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2020
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Web Services). The supported version that is affected is 12.2.1.3.0. Difficult to exploit 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. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 6.8 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14757 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle WebLogic Server version 12.2.1.3.0, specifically within the Web Services component of Oracle Fusion Middleware. This flaw exists in a widely deployed enterprise application server that serves as a critical infrastructure component for many organizations. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires some specific conditions to be met, the attack surface remains concerning given WebLogic Server's typical deployment in production environments. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.8 places this vulnerability in the medium-high severity range, reflecting the potential for serious data compromise and the relatively accessible nature of the attack vector.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an authentication bypass mechanism that allows unauthenticated attackers to gain access to critical system resources through HTTP network connections. This type of flaw typically stems from improper input validation or authentication flow implementation within the web services framework. The requirement for human interaction suggests that while the initial exploit may be automated, some form of user action or system interaction is necessary to complete the attack chain, potentially involving social engineering or targeted reconnaissance. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data access to include the ability to create, delete, or modify critical system data, representing a comprehensive compromise of both data integrity and confidentiality. The CVSS vector analysis reveals that the attack requires high complexity (AC:H) indicating sophisticated attack methods, but no privilege requirements (PR:N) and only required user interaction (UI:R), making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might inadvertently trigger the attack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations running affected WebLogic Server instances, as it provides unauthorized access to potentially sensitive enterprise data and system configurations. The ability to perform unauthorized modifications to critical data represents a serious threat to business continuity and data integrity, while complete access to all server-accessible data could lead to comprehensive information disclosure. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where WebLogic Server serves as a central application platform, potentially exposing financial records, customer data, intellectual property, and other sensitive information. Organizations with multiple WebLogic Server instances may face cascading impacts if the vulnerability is exploited across interconnected systems. The attack vector through HTTP connections means that this vulnerability is accessible from external networks, potentially allowing attackers to compromise systems without requiring physical access or prior network penetration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-14757 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Oracle WebLogic Server instances to the latest security updates provided by Oracle. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions to limit HTTP access to WebLogic Server components, particularly when the vulnerability is not immediately patchable. The use of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor and block suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software and implement monitoring for unusual system access patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and may be related to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through service exploitation. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader application infrastructure, as this type of authentication bypass vulnerability often indicates potential weaknesses in the overall security architecture.