CVE-2022-21564 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2022
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Web Services). Supported versions that are affected are 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0 and 14.1.1.0.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via T3, IIOP to compromise Oracle WebLogic Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle WebLogic Server. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21564 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle WebLogic Server, specifically within the Web Services component of the Fusion Middleware suite. This flaw affects multiple supported versions including 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, and 14.1.1.0.0, making it a widespread concern for organizations utilizing these server configurations. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can readily leverage this weakness without requiring specialized skills or extensive resources, posing a substantial risk to enterprise environments that rely on WebLogic Server for critical business applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the T3 and IIOP protocols that WebLogic Server utilizes for communication. T3 protocol, which is Oracle's proprietary protocol for WebLogic Server communication, and IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol) used for CORBA communications, both provide pathways for attackers to establish connections without proper authentication. This allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the system through network access, bypassing normal security controls that would typically require valid credentials or authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the Web Services component, which means that attackers can potentially disrupt service availability by manipulating the underlying communication protocols that handle web service requests and responses.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to achieve partial denial of service conditions against Oracle WebLogic Server instances, which can severely disrupt business operations and compromise service availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3 reflects the moderate severity of the impact, with the availability impact rating of "L" indicating that while the damage is partial rather than complete, it still represents a meaningful disruption to system operations. Organizations running affected WebLogic Server versions may experience service degradation, reduced application performance, or temporary unavailability of critical web services that depend on these server configurations. The partial denial of service can cascade through interconnected systems, affecting downstream applications and potentially causing broader business disruptions.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The attack vector through T3 and IIOP protocols also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting remote services to gain access to systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including network segmentation to restrict access to T3 and IIOP ports, disabling these protocols when not required, and applying the latest Oracle patches and updates. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns related to T3 and IIOP communications can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while implementing strict firewall rules to limit access to these protocols to trusted networks only provides an additional layer of defense against this specific vulnerability.