Loading story…
Attackers actively exploited Oracle WebLogic Server flaw CVE-2020-14882 to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution, with intrusions quickly progressing from opportunistic scanning to malware deployment. Incident reporting showed one campaign using obfuscated PowerShell to fetch a Cobalt Strike payload from 185[.]205.210.179, while another used a malicious wbw.xml file and follow-on scripts to install XMRig, rename it to sysupdate, and establish persistence with a scheduled task, driving victim CPU usage to 100%. Researchers warned the same access pattern could be readily adopted by ransomware operators because Cobalt Strike is commonly used in hands-on-keyboard attacks.
Technical analysis tied the exploitation to improper access control and path traversal in WebLogic console resources, where double URL decoding and abuse of console.portal and the handle parameter enabled code execution through MVEL and reflection. Oracle’s initial fix was found to be incomplete because blacklist-based URL filtering could be bypassed with trivial changes, leading to the related patch-bypass issue CVE-2020-14750. Defenders were urged to apply Oracle’s latest patches and hunt for indicators linked to console.portal, malicious PowerShell downloaders, miner artifacts, and published YARA, Sigma, and Suricata detections.
See which actors are running it and whether you're in range.
7 events from the most recent confirmed update back to the earliest known activity.
On Oct. 30, Oracle amended its original CVE-2020-14882 patch, and the bypass variation was assigned CVE-2020-14750 after researchers found trivial ways around the initial blacklist-based fix.
On Friday, Oct. 30, some exploitation attempts against vulnerable WebLogic servers were seen trying to install crypto-mining tools.
Oracle released a patch for the critical Oracle WebLogic Server vulnerability CVE-2020-14882 in October 2020 as part of its remediation for the flaw.
The flawed initial remediation and subsequent bypass led to CVE-2020-14882 being associated with the 2020 Pwnie Award 'Most Epic Fail' category.
A threat actor exploited CVE-2020-14882 to execute wbw.xml and a PowerShell downloader from 95.142.39.135, which installed XMRig, renamed it to sysupdate, and created a scheduled task for persistence. The compromised server's CPU reached 100% during the resource-hijacking activity.
On Saturday, attackers used CVE-2020-14882 in a campaign that executed obfuscated PowerShell scripts to download and run a Cobalt Strike payload from attacker-controlled infrastructure.
Researchers observed a large number of scans against WebLogic honeypots beginning late the previous week to identify servers vulnerable to CVE-2020-14882.
Vulnerabilities, threat actors, malware, products, organizations, breaches, and observables Mallory has linked to this story. Indicator values are masked here and available in full in the app.
Indicator values are masked on this page. View all 33 in Mallory Domains, IPs, hashes, and URLs are exportable to your SIEM.
Correlate live exploitation activity against the software you actually run, and see where you're exposed.
4 references tracked. Mallory keeps watching after this page renders.
teamt5.org
Open sourcethedfirreport.com
Open sourceisc.sans.edu
Open sourceblog.talosintelligence.com
Open sourceMap indicators from this story to your assets and identify affected systems in minutes.
Every observed campaign, victim, and pivot linked to actors named in this story.
Malware, exploits, and IOCs connected to the activity described here.
YARA, Sigma, and Snort rules deployed to your SIEM as soon as they’re published.
Get matching new stories delivered to your team as they break — not the next morning.
Ask questions about this story and take action on the answers.
Other stories Mallory is tracking that overlap on entities, sources, or topic labels.
Attackers began exploiting **Oracle WebLogic Server** vulnerability `CVE-2026-21962` almost immediately after public proof-of-concept code was posted, according to observations from a high-interaction honeypot emulating an unpatched **WebLogic Server 14.1.1.0.0** instance. The flaw is a **CVSS 10.0** unauthenticated remote code execution issue in the WebLogic Console, and researchers recorded active exploitation attempts over a 12-day period, showing how quickly newly disclosed enterprise software vulnerabilities can be operationalized. The activity was largely automated and opportunistic, with scans and exploit attempts originating mainly from rented VPS infrastructure including **DigitalOcean** and **HOSTGLOBAL.PLUS**. Researchers also observed continued abuse of older WebLogic flaws such as `CVE-2020-14882`, `CVE-2020-14883`, `CVE-2020-2551`, and `CVE-2017-10271`, alongside probes for unrelated weaknesses in **Hikvision** devices and **PHPUnit**, indicating a broad spray-and-pray campaign. Common tooling included **libredtail-http** and the **Nmap Scripting Engine**, while defenders were urged to apply Oracle patches, restrict internet exposure of the administrative console, deploy a **WAF**, and monitor for suspicious activity including `wget` or `curl` execution.
Jun 29, 2026
CISA has added **CVE-2026-21962** to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog after confirming active attacks against **Oracle HTTP Server** and the **Oracle WebLogic Server Proxy Plug-in**. The maximum-severity flaw, rated **CVSS 10.0**, affects versions `12.2.1.4.0`, `14.1.1.0.0`, and `14.1.2.0.0`, and can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers over HTTP to compromise exposed systems, including unauthorized access to and modification of critical data. Public reporting describes the issue as a URI normalization path traversal bug that may also enable privilege escalation and execution of injected code through crafted requests. Oracle issued patches in its January 2026 Critical Patch Update, but reporting from GreyNoise and CloudSEK indicated exploitation in the wild, prompting CISA to order Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies to remediate by **August 27, 2026** under **Binding Operational Directive 26-04**. Because CISA did not publish indicators of compromise, defenders are being urged to patch immediately and to treat internet-facing Oracle WebLogic and HTTP Server deployments as potentially compromised until proven otherwise.
Aug 26, 2026
CISA added **Oracle WebLogic Server** vulnerability `CVE-2024-21182` to its **Known Exploited Vulnerabilities** catalog after confirming active exploitation, and ordered U.S. federal civilian agencies to patch affected systems by June 4 under **Binding Operational Directive 22-01**. The flaw affects WebLogic Server versions `12.2.1.4.0` and `14.1.1.0.0`, carries a `CVSS 7.5` rating, and can be exploited remotely by an unauthenticated attacker with network access using `T3` or `IIOP` protocols. Successful exploitation could expose sensitive information or give attackers full access to data reachable by the server, raising concern for both government and enterprise environments. Oracle issued fixes in July 2024, but CISA warned that WebLogic bugs are frequently used as initial access vectors, and reporting indicated more than 1,592 internet-exposed WebLogic servers may be vulnerable; private-sector organizations were also urged to patch quickly as attackers have historically leveraged WebLogic flaws for botnets, cryptomining, and ransomware activity.
Jun 29, 2026