Security Advisories and Notifications

Security Advisory: (BEA05-51.01)

From: Oracle Corporation

Minor Subject: Patches available to protect password

Product(s) Affected: WebLogic Server and Express

This security advisory (BEA05-51.01) contains the corrected remedy for this vulnerability on WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 7.0. Please disregard SECURITY ADVISORY BEA04-51.00, as this advisory, BEA05-51.01, supercedes it.

Threat level: Low

To be exploited, an attacker must be on a machine that is running a managed server and must be able to time their attack with boot errors in the managed server.

Severity: High

The attacker can gain access to an Operator or Admin password.

Recently a problem was identified that could potentially cause a security vulnerability in certain versions of WebLogic Server and Express. Patches are available to correct this problem (see section II below). BEA treats such possibilities with the highest degree of urgency and does everything possible to ensure the security of all customer assets. As a result, we strongly suggest the following action:

  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 below.

I. Advisory

When the node manager attempts to start a managed server and the managed server fails early in the boot process, the username and password used to start the managed server can be left in clear-text on the file system. A knowledgeable attacker could potentially time an attack with a known boot failure of a managed server, causing the boot username and password to be compromised.

This vulnerability affects sites that use the managed server node manager.

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

  • WebLogic Server and Express 8.1, released through Service Pack 2, on all platforms
  • WebLogic Server and Express 7.0, released through Service Pack 5, on all platforms
  • WebLogic Server and Express 6.1, released through Service Pack 6, on all platforms

II. SUGGESTED ACTION

Oracle strongly recommends the following course of actions:

  • For WebLogic Server and Express 8.1

    Upgrade to Service Pack 2 and download and apply the patch #7823551 from OracleMetaLink as per the instructions below:

    • Select the Patches and Updates tab after logging in to OracleMetaLink.
    • Click Simple Search.
    • In the Search By field, select Patch Number from the list.
    • Enter the patch number. The patch number may be different for different product releases and platforms.
    • Select the platform (or choose generic as applicable)
    • Click Go.
    • Click Download to download the patch.

    When Service Pack 3 is available, you may use that Service Pack instead of Service Pack 2 and this patch.

  • For WebLogic Server and Express 7.0

    Upgrade to Service Pack 5 and download and apply the patch #7823544 from OracleMetaLink as per the instructions below:

    • Select the Patches and Updates tab after logging in to OracleMetaLink.
    • Click Simple Search.
    • In the Search By field, select Patch Number from the list.
    • Enter the patch number. The patch number may be different for different product releases and platforms.
    • Select the platform (or choose generic as applicable)
    • Click Go.
    • Click Download to download the patch.

    When Service Pack 6 is available, you may use that Service Pack instead of Service Pack 5 and this patch.

  • For WebLogic Server and Express 6.1

    Upgrade to Service Pack 6 and download and apply the patch #7823516 from OracleMetaLink as per the instructions below:

    • Select the Patches and Updates tab after logging in to OracleMetaLink.
    • Click Simple Search.
    • In the Search By field, select Patch Number from the list.
    • Enter the patch number. The patch number may be different for different product releases and platforms.
    • Select the platform (or choose generic as applicable)
    • Click Go.
    • Click Download to download the patch.

    When Service Pack 7 is available, you may use that Service Pack instead of Service Pack 6 and this patch.

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