CVE-2022-21258 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Samples). The supported version that is affected is 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 CVE-2022-21258 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server version 14.1.1.0.0, specifically affecting the Samples component. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms. The flaw exists in the server's handling of HTTP requests and allows for unauthenticated exploitation by remote attackers who can access the system through network connections. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical sophistication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where WebLogic Server serves as a core infrastructure component.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication checks within the WebLogic Server's sample applications, which are typically used for demonstration purposes but remain accessible in production deployments. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized operations including data modification and unauthorized data access without requiring valid credentials or prior system compromise. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.1 reflects the moderate severity of the impact, with confidentiality and integrity being the primary affected aspects. The vulnerability's vector indicates network-based exploitation with low attack complexity and no privilege requirements, though it does require human interaction from users who may inadvertently trigger the attack through legitimate system usage patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate WebLogic Server instance, as the attack can potentially affect additional Oracle products within the same ecosystem. This cascading effect aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials and system access to gain deeper access to network resources. Successful exploitation enables attackers to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on sensitive data within the server's accessible scope, while also allowing read access to confidential information. The vulnerability's potential to compromise data integrity and confidentiality makes it particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive business data or regulatory compliance requirements.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or removing the vulnerable samples component from production environments, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to WebLogic Server instances, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and regular security assessments of middleware components. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability scans to identify any other potentially vulnerable components within their Oracle Fusion Middleware environment and ensure that all systems are updated to the latest security patches provided by Oracle. The incident highlights the critical need for continuous monitoring and proactive security measures in enterprise infrastructure environments where legacy systems and demonstration components may inadvertently expose organizations to significant risk.