Security Advisories and Notifications

Subject: Security Advisory (BEA08-195.00)

From: Oracle Corporation

Minor Subject: Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Console's Unexpected Exception Page

Product(s) Affected: WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express

Threat level: Medium

This exploit requires an administrator to be tricked into executing malicious code, typically via a link.

Severity: High

Can allow anonymous user to upgrade to administrative privileges.

A problem was identified that could potentially cause a security vulnerability in certain versions of WebLogic Server. Patches are available to correct this problem (see Section II). Oracle treats potential security problems with a high degree of urgency and endeavors to take appropriate steps to help ensure the security of our customers' systems. As a result, Oracle strongly suggests the following actions:

  1. I. Read the following advisory.
  2. II. Apply the suggested action.
  3. III. If you know of any additional users interested in future security advisories, please forward them the registration instructions included in this advisory.

I. Advisory

Background: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities are well documented in the industry. An XSS vulnerability requires three parties:

  1. A susceptible Web site.
  2. A valid user of the Web site.
  3. An attacker.

The attacker tricks the user (usually via misleading links on web pages or within emails) to exploit the XSS vulnerability in the Web site. This allows the attacker to run arbitrary client-side (i.e. browser) scripts that execute as the identity of the valid user. Typically this is used to steal session cookies thereby allowing the attacker to impersonate the valid user. XSS vulnerabilities can arise due to bugs in the Web server or in applications running on it.

The WebLogic Server Administration Console uses fields contained in a URL to identify which information should be included when displaying information to a user. An attacker may be able to inject JavaScript into the console output.

This advisory corrects this cross site scripting issue by sanitizing the output.

Impact and CVSS Ratings:

  1. CVSS Severity Score: 6.1 (Medium)
  2. Attack Range (AV): Network
  3. Attack Complexity (AC): High
  4. Authentication Level (Au): Single Instance
  5. Impact Type : Partial confidentiality and integrity and complete availability impact
  6. Vulnerability Type: Elevation of Privilege
  7. CVSS Base Score Vector: (AV:N/AC:H/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:C)

  1. Online Calculator: http://nvd.nist.gov/cvss.cfm?calculator&version=2

The following versions of WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express are affected by this vulnerability

  • WebLogic Server 10.0, on all platforms
  • WebLogic Server 9.2 released through Maintenance Pack 1, on all platforms
  • WebLogic Server 9.1 on all platforms
  • WebLogic Server 9.0 on all platforms

II. SUGGESTED ACTION

Oracle strongly recommends the following course of actions.

WebLogic Server 10.0

Upgrade to WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 10.0 Maintenance Pack 1.

WebLogic Server 9.2

Upgrade to WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 9.2 Maintenance Pack 2.

Note: All WebLogic Server instances are required to be restarted for the patch to take effect.

WebLogic Server 9.0

  1. Download and apply the 9.0 GA Combo patch #7824963 from OracleMetaLink as per the instructions below:
    1. Select the Patches and Updates tab after logging in to OracleMetaLink.
    2. Click Simple Search.
    3. In the Search By field, select Patch Number from the list.
    4. Enter the patch number. The patch number may be different for different product releases and platforms.
    5. Select the platform (or choose generic as applicable)
    6. Click Go.
    7. Click Download to download the patch.
  2. Download and apply the patch #7825017 from OracleMetaLink as per the instructions below:
    1. Select the Patches and Updates tab after logging in to OracleMetaLink.
    2. Click Simple Search.
    3. In the Search By field, select Patch Number from the list.
    4. Enter the patch number. The patch number may be different for different product releases and platforms.
    5. Select the platform (or choose generic as applicable)
    6. Click Go.
    7. Click Download to download the patch.
  3. Please follow the instructions in the Readme.txt in the zip file to install the patch.
  4. Note: All WebLogic Server instances are required to be restarted for the patch to take effect.

SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS

Oracle strongly suggests that customers apply the remedies recommended in all our security advisories. Oracle also urges customers to apply every Service/Maintenance Pack as they are released. Service/Maintenance Packs include a roll-up of all bug fixes for each version of the product, as well as each of the prior Service/Maintenance Packs. Service/Maintenance Packs.

As a policy, if there are any security-related issues with any Oracle product, Oracle will distribute an advisory and instructions with the appropriate course of action. Because the security of your site, data, and code is our highest priority, we are committed to communicating all security-related issues clearly and openly.

Additional users who wish to register for product advisory distribution should follow the registration directions at: http://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/.

Security issues can be reported to Oracle by following the directions at: http://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/.

Thank you,

Oracle Corporation