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BEA WebLogic Server stores administrator password in clear text in config.xml

Vulnerability Note VU#350350

Original Release Date: 2004-04-12 | Last Revised: 2004-04-14

Overview

BEA WebLogic Server stores the administrator password used to boot the server in clear text within the config.xml file.

Description

BEA Systems describes WebLogic Server as "an industrial-strength application infrastructure for developing, integrating, securing, and managing distributed Java applications." There is a vulnerability in the way BEA Weblogic Server stores the administrative password used to boot the server.

According to the BEA Security Advisory,
Due to a coding error, the administrator password used to boot the server might automatically be written in clear text to the config.xml file. A user with access to the config.xml file can obtain the password and use it to impersonate an administrator.
The BEA Security Advisory states that the following versions of WebLogic Server and Express are affected by this vulnerability:

    • WebLogic Server and Express 8.1, released and Service Pack 1, on all platforms

Impact

A user with access to the config.xml file may acquire the administrator password used to boot the server. The user could subsequently use this password to impersonate an administrator.

Solution

Apply PatchBEA has released an advisory to address this issue. According to the BEA Security Advisory, it is recommended that users upgrade to Service Pack 2.

Vendor Information

350350
 

BEA Systems Inc. Affected

Updated:  April 12, 2004

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Please refer to BEA Security Advisory BEA04-50.00.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.


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References

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was reported by BEA Systems Inc.

This document was written by Lucy Crocker.

Other Information

CVE IDs: None
Severity Metric: 7.24
Date Public: 2004-01-27
Date First Published: 2004-04-12
Date Last Updated: 2004-04-14 16:20 UTC
Document Revision: 12

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