CVE-2022-21260 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 CVE-2022-21260 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw 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 vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification as CWE-284, which pertains to improper access control mechanisms. The flaw resides in the server's sample applications that are typically deployed to demonstrate functionality but remain accessible in production environments. These samples often contain testing code and configuration that can be exploited by malicious actors without requiring authentication credentials, making them particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such components may not be properly secured or removed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unauthenticated HTTP network access, presenting an attack surface that can be leveraged by remote threat actors. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 6.1, indicating a medium severity level with significant implications for both confidentiality and integrity. The vulnerability requires human interaction from users other than the attacker, suggesting that exploitation may involve social engineering components where legitimate users inadvertently trigger malicious actions. The attack vector specifically targets HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous in environments where WebLogic Server operates behind firewalls or is exposed to untrusted networks. This vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate WebLogic Server component, potentially affecting additional Oracle products that may be integrated within the same ecosystem.
The operational consequences of successful exploitation encompass unauthorized modification and deletion capabilities against Oracle WebLogic Server accessible data, along with read access to sensitive information within the system's data stores. Attackers can manipulate or destroy data that resides within the server's accessible resources, potentially compromising the integrity of enterprise applications and services. The confidentiality impact allows unauthorized access to subset data within the server's accessible scope, which may include sensitive configuration information, user credentials, or business-critical data. Organizations running affected versions of WebLogic Server face potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations that could result in substantial financial and reputational damage. The vulnerability's ability to affect additional products within the Oracle ecosystem means that exploitation could potentially cascade to other systems that depend on or integrate with the vulnerable WebLogic Server installations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying Oracle's security patches and updates as released through their official security bulletins, which would address the underlying access control weaknesses in the samples component. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of WebLogic Server instances to untrusted networks, while disabling or removing sample applications from production environments. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses in other components of the Oracle Fusion Middleware stack. Additionally, privileged access controls and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized modifications or data access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and data manipulation.