CVE-2022-21262 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-2022-21262 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server's sample components, specifically affecting versions 12.2.1.4.0 and 14.1.1.0.0 within the Fusion Middleware suite. This vulnerability resides in the WebLogic Server's sample functionality, which typically serves as demonstration or testing components for developers and administrators. The flaw manifests as an easily exploitable security weakness that permits unauthenticated network-based attacks through HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no prior authentication credentials or privileged access to initiate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage automated tools or simple manual techniques to compromise affected systems without requiring advanced technical skills or specialized equipment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the sample components of WebLogic Server. Attackers can potentially manipulate HTTP requests to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources through the vulnerable sample functionality. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 6.1, indicating a medium severity level, though the impact can be significant depending on the environment and implementation. The attack vector requires network access via HTTP protocol, making it accessible from external networks, while the low attack complexity and lack of privilege requirements mean that even casual threat actors can potentially exploit this flaw. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate WebLogic Server components, potentially affecting related systems and products within the Oracle Fusion Middleware ecosystem due to the interconnected nature of these technologies.
The operational implications of CVE-2022-21262 are particularly concerning for organizations running affected WebLogic Server versions, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized modification of data through update, insert, or delete operations on accessible database elements. Additionally, attackers can potentially gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data within the server's accessible scope, creating potential data breaches and information disclosure risks. The requirement for human interaction from individuals other than the attacker suggests that exploitation might involve social engineering or user manipulation techniques, though the underlying vulnerability remains exploitable through network-based attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software design that can lead to various security issues including unauthorized access and data manipulation. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that while the vulnerability exists within WebLogic Server, it can potentially impact additional Oracle products and services within the same ecosystem.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through official Oracle patches and updates, as the lack of authentication requirements and low attack complexity make it particularly attractive to threat actors. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches from Oracle, which address the underlying input validation issues in the sample components. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of WebLogic Server instances to untrusted networks. Monitoring for suspicious HTTP traffic and unauthorized access attempts should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates that while network access is required for exploitation, the attack complexity is low and requires minimal privileges, making it a high-priority concern for cybersecurity teams. Organizations should also review their WebLogic Server configurations to ensure that sample components are properly secured or removed from production environments where they are not essential for operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing all components within enterprise application servers, as even seemingly benign sample or demonstration functionalities can provide attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries.