CVE-2024-20986 in WebLogic Server
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2024
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 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 (scope change). 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 • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20986 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle WebLogic Server Fusion Middleware component known as Core. This weakness affects specifically version 12.2.1.4.0 and 14.1.1.0.0 of the server software, making them susceptible to exploitation by unauthenticated attackers who can access the system through standard HTTP network connections. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this flaw with minimal technical sophistication, requiring only network connectivity to the target server. The security implications extend beyond the immediate WebLogic Server environment, as successful exploitation can result in scope changes that impact additional Oracle products within the ecosystem.
Technical analysis reveals that this vulnerability resides in the core processing mechanisms of WebLogic Server, where insufficient input validation or access control measures have been implemented. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 6.1, indicating a medium severity threat that specifically targets both confidentiality and integrity aspects of the system. The attack vector AV:N suggests network-based exploitation without requiring physical access, while AC:L indicates low attack complexity. The PR:N designation shows that no authentication is required for initial exploitation, making this particularly dangerous for publicly exposed systems. The UI:R component indicates that successful attacks require some form of human interaction from users other than the attacker, suggesting that the vulnerability may be triggered through user actions or specific system interactions rather than purely automated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access compromise, as it enables unauthorized modification capabilities including update, insert, and delete operations against sensitive data within the WebLogic Server environment. Additionally, attackers can gain unauthorized read access to subsets of data that should normally be protected from unauthorized access. This dual impact on both data integrity and confidentiality creates significant risk for organizations relying on WebLogic Server for critical business applications. The scope change aspect of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation can potentially affect not only the primary WebLogic Server instance but also related Oracle products and services within the same deployment environment. This interconnectedness amplifies the potential damage and complicates remediation efforts, as administrators must consider the broader ecosystem when implementing security measures.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Oracle patches and updates, as the low attack complexity and lack of authentication requirements make this an attractive target for malicious actors. The implementation of network segmentation and access controls can provide temporary mitigation while permanent solutions are deployed. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual HTTP traffic patterns and unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and potentially CWE-311 (Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) categories, representing fundamental security architecture flaws that require comprehensive architectural review and remediation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving initial access through network services and privilege escalation through data manipulation, requiring organizations to strengthen their defensive measures against such attack vectors.