CVE-2022-21257 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Samples). Supported versions that are affected are 12.2.1.4.0 and 14.1.1.0.0. Easily exploitable 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 and while the vulnerability is in Oracle WebLogic Server, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 6.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21257 resides within Oracle WebLogic Server's Samples component, specifically affecting versions 12.2.1.4.0 and 14.1.1.0.0 within the Oracle Fusion Middleware suite. This represents a critical security weakness that operates at the network level, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit the system through HTTP connections without requiring any prior authentication credentials or privileged access. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack surface is relatively accessible and that the implementation flaw does not require sophisticated techniques or extensive reconnaissance to identify and leverage. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system assigns this vulnerability a base score of 6.1, reflecting moderate severity with specific impacts to confidentiality and integrity, while maintaining a low attack complexity and no required privileges from the attacker's perspective.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the WebLogic Server Samples functionality, which provides demonstration and testing capabilities for the platform. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute unauthorized operations against the affected server, including read access to sensitive data and the ability to modify or delete information within the server's accessible data stores. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate WebLogic Server environment as indicated by the CVSS vector's scope classification of "C" (Changed), suggesting that successful exploitation could affect additional Oracle products that may be integrated or dependent on the vulnerable server. This interconnected impact highlights the potential for cascading security failures within enterprise environments where WebLogic Server components often serve as foundational infrastructure for multiple applications and services.
The operational implications of CVE-2022-21257 are significant for organizations utilizing affected WebLogic Server versions, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized data manipulation and access without requiring authentication. The requirement for human interaction from a person other than the attacker suggests that exploitation may involve social engineering elements or user-specific actions that could be initiated through phishing campaigns or other deceptive means. This aspect of the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to initial access and privilege escalation, where attackers might leverage user trust or specific application behaviors to achieve their objectives. Organizations should consider the potential for data exfiltration, service disruption, and unauthorized modifications to critical business applications that depend on the vulnerable WebLogic Server instances.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Oracle's security updates, as the vendor would have released specific fixes to address the identified access control and input validation issues. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict unnecessary HTTP access to WebLogic Server components, particularly those running the vulnerable Samples functionality. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected WebLogic Server versions and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should align with industry standards such as CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-1236 (Use of Unmaintained Third-Party Components) which directly relate to the access control failures and component management issues that contribute to this vulnerability. Security teams should also establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper containment and recovery measures are in place to protect against unauthorized modifications to critical data and system configurations.