CVE-2023-22089 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Core). 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 T3, IIOP to compromise Oracle WebLogic Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle WebLogic Server. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 9.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2023
The CVE-2023-22089 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Oracle WebLogic Server affecting versions 12.2.1.4.0 and 14.1.1.0.0 within the Core component of Oracle Fusion Middleware. This vulnerability operates at the network level and specifically targets the T3 and IIOP protocols that are commonly used for communication with WebLogic servers. The flaw exists in the server's handling of incoming requests through these protocols, creating an exploitable entry point that requires no authentication credentials from potential attackers. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage it with minimal technical sophistication or resources, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such servers are typically exposed to external networks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the WebLogic Server's protocol handlers. When the server receives maliciously crafted requests through T3 or IIOP interfaces, it fails to properly validate the incoming data, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or commands on the target system. This weakness directly maps to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that should prevent such vulnerabilities from existing in enterprise software. The attack vector specifically leverages the T3 protocol, a legacy communication protocol used by WebLogic Server for internal and external communications, and the IIOP protocol which is used for CORBA object requests, both of which are commonly enabled in production environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for organizations running affected WebLogic Server versions. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to gain full control over the affected server and potentially use it as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 indicates high severity across all impact vectors, meaning that attackers can achieve high levels of confidentiality, integrity, and availability breaches. This vulnerability can result in data theft, system corruption, service disruption, and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored or processed by the compromised WebLogic Server. Organizations may face significant regulatory and compliance consequences if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in industries governed by standards such as pci dss, hipaa, or soc 2.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-22089 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Oracle's security updates, as this represents the most effective defense against the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to T3 and IIOP ports, particularly when these protocols are not required for legitimate business operations. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by disabling unnecessary protocols and services on WebLogic Server instances. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts, and network intrusion detection systems should be configured to alert on suspicious T3 and IIOP communications. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected WebLogic Server versions and ensure that proper access controls and network boundaries are in place to limit the potential attack surface. This vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the attack framework under initial access and execution phases, where attackers leverage network-based protocols to establish footholds within target environments.