CVE-2020-14883
Oracle WebLogic Server Unspecified Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2020-14883 is a high-severity vulnerability in Oracle WebLogic Server that allows a privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to completely take over the affected server. The vulnerability resides in the Console component of Oracle Fusion Middleware and, while it requires high privileges to exploit directly, is frequently chained with CVE-2020-14882 to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution. CISA has added this Oracle WebLogic Server vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 94.44% (99.99th percentile), CVE-2020-14883 has a near-certain probability of exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| oracle | weblogic server | 10.3.6.0.0; 12.1.3.0.0; 12.2.1.3.0; 12.2.1.4.0; 14.1.1.0.0 |
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160143/Oracle-WebLogic-Server-Administration-Console-Handle-Remote-Code-Execution.html(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html(Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-14883(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
No specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2020-14883 by NVD. The vulnerability is classified as an unspecified flaw in the Console component of Oracle WebLogic Server that enables a high-privileged attacker to achieve complete server takeover via HTTP.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2020-14883 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 (HIGH), indicating a serious threat that requires attention. While the vulnerability requires high privileges to exploit (PR:H), the attack vector is network-based with low complexity and requires no user interaction. Successful exploitation results in complete takeover of Oracle WebLogic Server with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability — attackers can access all server data, modify configurations and deployed applications, and disrupt service operations. The critical factor is that CVE-2020-14883 is commonly chained with CVE-2020-14882, an authentication bypass vulnerability, which eliminates the privilege requirement and creates a fully unauthenticated remote code execution chain. The EPSS score of 94.44% places this vulnerability at the 99.99th percentile, reflecting near-certain exploitation activity. Organizations running affected Oracle WebLogic Server versions should treat this as a critical risk due to the chaining potential.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2020-14883 is confirmed as actively exploited through its listing in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Public exploit code is available via Packet Storm Security, which demonstrates the complete attack chain. The EPSS score of 94.44% (99.99th percentile) indicates near-certain exploitation activity. This vulnerability is commonly chained with CVE-2020-14882, which provides the authentication bypass needed to exploit CVE-2020-14883 without credentials — together they form a devastating unauthenticated remote code execution chain against Oracle WebLogic Server deployments. Federal agencies were required to remediate this vulnerability by 2022-05-03 per CISA's binding operational directive.
Remediation
- Apply Oracle Critical Patch Update immediately as mandated by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions. The fix is available in Oracle's October 2020 Critical Patch Update.
- Upgrade all Oracle WebLogic Server instances from affected versions (10.3.6.0.0, 12.1.3.0.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0) to the latest patched release. Ensure both CVE-2020-14883 and CVE-2020-14882 patches are applied, as they are frequently exploited together.
- If immediate patching is not possible, restrict access to the WebLogic Server Administration Console by blocking HTTP access to the console path (/console/) from untrusted networks. Implement IP-based access control lists to limit console access to authorized administrator workstations only.
- Monitor WebLogic Server access logs for suspicious Console activity, including unexpected administrative operations, unusual HTTP request patterns, and signs of exploit chaining. Deploy intrusion detection rules targeting known WebLogic exploitation techniques.
- As a long-term measure, ensure the WebLogic Administration Console is never exposed to the public internet, implement network segmentation between application tiers, and enforce multi-factor authentication for all administrative access.
Technical Details
CVE-2020-14883 affects the Console component of Oracle WebLogic Server in Oracle Fusion Middleware across versions 10.3.6.0.0, 12.1.3.0.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, and 14.1.1.0.0. The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that while the vulnerability requires high privileges, it is otherwise straightforward to exploit over the network with no user interaction. The exploitability score of 1.2 reflects the privilege requirement, but the impact score of 5.9 represents maximum damage potential once exploited. In practice, the privilege requirement is bypassed by chaining this vulnerability with CVE-2020-14882, which provides an authentication bypass in the same Console component. The combined exploitation chain allows unauthenticated attackers to first bypass WebLogic's authentication mechanism and then leverage CVE-2020-14883 to execute arbitrary commands on the server with the privileges of the WebLogic process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2020-14883 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2020-14883 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. The EPSS score of 94.44% (99.99th percentile) further indicates near-certain exploitation activity. It is commonly exploited in combination with CVE-2020-14882.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-14883?
CVE-2020-14883 affects Oracle WebLogic Server versions 10.3.6.0.0, 12.1.3.0.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0, and 14.1.1.0.0. The vulnerability is in the Console component of Oracle Fusion Middleware.
How do I fix CVE-2020-14883?
Apply Oracle's October 2020 Critical Patch Update to all affected WebLogic Server instances. Ensure patches for both CVE-2020-14883 and the related CVE-2020-14882 are applied. If patching is not immediately possible, restrict network access to the WebLogic Administration Console.
How severe is CVE-2020-14883?
CVE-2020-14883 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 (HIGH) on its own, but when chained with CVE-2020-14882 it enables unauthenticated remote code execution. The EPSS score of 94.44% at the 99.99th percentile reflects near-certain exploitation activity, making this a critical priority for remediation.
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