`CVE-2015-4852` Oracle WebLogic Server

Affected software	Oracle WebLogic Server
Affected versions	Prior to 2.2.1
Severity	9.8 Critical CVSS 3.1 3 scores
Fixed in	Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2017
Weakness	Deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502)
Published	18 Nov 2015
Updated	13 Nov 2026

Description

The WLS Security component in Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.6.0, 12.1.2.0, 12.1.3.0, and 12.2.1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted serialized Java object in T3 protocol traffic to TCP port 7001, related to oracle_common/modules/com.bea.core.apache.commons.collections.jar. NOTE: the scope of this CVE is limited to the WebLogic Server product.

Exploitation status

Exploited

Confirmed real-world exploitation.

CISA KEV listed Confirmed exploitation in the wild. Added 2021-11-03 · remediation due 2022-05-03 · ransomware use: unknown
VulnCheck KEV listed Exploitation reported in the wild. 4 citations · 5 exploits · earliest 2020-10-20.
CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: active CISA records active exploitation. Automatable: yes, technical impact: total.
Indexed PoC 8 indexed Published artifacts you can open, in Exploit-DB, GitHub PoC, Metasploit; first seen 2016-03-03.
EPSS 95% chance in 30 days A model's forecast, not a report of exploitation. Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs.

VulnCheck KEV

Exploitation evidence from VulnCheck Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (VulnCheck KEV), used under VulnCheck's community terms. View CVE-2015-4852 in VulnCheck (free account).

Evidence	Source	Detail	Date
Reported exploitation	cisa.gov	/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa20-275a	2020-10-20
Reported exploitation	media.defense.gov	/2020/Oct/20/2002519884/-1/-1/0/CSA_CHINESE_EXPLOIT_VULNERABILITIES_UOO179811.PDF	2020-10-20
Reported exploitation	us-cert.cisa.gov	/ncas/alerts/aa20-275a	2020-10-20
Reported exploitation	cisa.gov	/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json	2021-11-03
Exploit reference	VulnCheck XDB 3b46068ce37d	Exploit type: initial-access	2020-08-10
Exploit reference	VulnCheck XDB d6ab148d5191	Exploit type: initial-access	2020-11-16
Exploit reference	VulnCheck XDB d3997c03feb1	Exploit type: initial-access	2022-05-27
Exploit reference	VulnCheck XDB bae8da7c0ecd	Exploit type: initial-access	2023-12-20
Exploit reference	VulnCheck XDB 8424221cddad	Exploit type: initial-access	2024-07-21

Evidence

Source

Detail

Date

Reported exploitation

cisa.gov

/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa20-275a

2020-10-20

Reported exploitation

media.defense.gov

/2020/Oct/20/2002519884/-1/-1/0/CSA_CHINESE_EXPLOIT_VULNERABILITIES_UOO179811.PDF

2020-10-20

Reported exploitation

us-cert.cisa.gov

/ncas/alerts/aa20-275a

2020-10-20

Reported exploitation

cisa.gov

/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json

2021-11-03

Exploit reference

VulnCheck XDB 3b46068ce37d

Exploit type: initial-access

2020-08-10

Exploit reference

VulnCheck XDB d6ab148d5191

Exploit type: initial-access

2020-11-16

Exploit reference

VulnCheck XDB d3997c03feb1

Exploit type: initial-access

2022-05-27

Exploit reference

VulnCheck XDB bae8da7c0ecd

Exploit type: initial-access

2023-12-20

Exploit reference

VulnCheck XDB 8424221cddad

Exploit type: initial-access

2024-07-21

2 of these are GitHub repositories with fewer than 5 stars. They are listed for reference and don't count toward the exploitation status above.

Index	Artifact	Stars	First seen
GitHub PoC	Python script to exploit CVE-2015-4852.	31	2016-03-03
GitHub PoC	CVE-2015-4852、CVE-2016-0638、CVE-2016-3510、CVE-2019-2890漏洞POC	17	2020-08-10
GitHub PoC	CVE-2015-4852 Oracle WebLogic Scanner	2	2017-11-25
GitHub PoC	nex1less/CVE-2015-4852	1	2020-11-16
Exploit-DB	Oracle Weblogic Server Deserialization RCE - Raw Object (Metasploit)		2019-03-28
Exploit-DB	Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.6.0 - Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution		2017-09-27
Exploit-DB	Websphere/JBoss/OpenNMS/Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager - Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution		2016-07-20
Metasploit	Oracle Weblogic Server Deserialization RCE - Raw Object (excellent rank)

Waratek protection

Protected by Waratek

Waratek has a rule that blocks attacks on this vulnerability.

Protection full Deserialization
Action available security rule
Review human Researcher
Record active

Decided by	A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE
Finding	A researcher found this CVE protected by the ARMR Deserial sys rule, Marshal RCE rule.

Decided by

A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE

Finding

A researcher found this CVE protected by the ARMR Deserial sys rule, Marshal RCE rule.

Waratek research note

written 2026-11-13

Written by a Waratek engineer who reviewed this CVE. Their decision sets the status above, ahead of every automated rule except a withdrawal.

Comments

Rule Name: Deserial sys rule, Marshal RCE rule

The WLS Security component in Oracle WebLogic Server 10.3.6.0 12.1.2.0 12.1.3.0 and 12.2.1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted serialized Java object in T3 protocol traffic to TCP port 7001 related to oracle_common/modules/com.bea.core.apache.commons.collections.jar. NOTE: the scope of this CVE is limited to the WebLogic Server product.

How to mitigate CVE-2015-4852

Apply the fix in Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2017. Until you can, Waratek RASP blocks exploitation with its deserialization rule. It runs inside the Java application, with no code changes.

Waratek RASP Runtime protection for Java applications

CVSS

9.8 CRITICAL v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H 3 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

Version Score Band Vector Assigner Type

CVSS 3.1 9.8 CRITICAL CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H NVD Primary published

CVSS 3.1 9.8 CRITICAL CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H CISA-ADP Secondary

CVSS 2.0 7.5 none AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P NVD Primary

Version	Score	Band	Vector	Assigner	Type
CVSS 3.1	9.8	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`	NVD	Primary	published
CVSS 3.1	9.8	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`	CISA-ADP	Secondary
CVSS 2.0	7.5	none	`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`	NVD	Primary

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

Advisory	Type	Quarter	Products Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2017 ↗	CPU	2017-Q2	Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite / WebLogic Server (Prior to 2.2.1)

Advisory

Type

Quarter

Products Oracle names in its risk matrix

Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2017 ↗

CPU

2017-Q2

Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite / WebLogic Server (Prior to 2.2.1)

Oracle components and versions

Family	Component	Versions, as Oracle lists them	Read as
Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite	WebLogic Server	Prior to 2.2.1

Family

Component

Versions, as Oracle lists them

Read as

Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite

WebLogic Server

Prior to 2.2.1

Products and versions

3 products, 6 version entries

Source	Vendor	Product	Scheme	Affected versions
nvd	oracle	storagetek tape analytics sw tool	generic	2.3
nvd	oracle	virtual desktop infrastructure	generic	≤ 3.5.2
nvd	oracle	weblogic server	generic	10.3.6.0.0 · 12.1.2.0.0 · 12.1.3.0.0 · 12.2.1.0.0

Source

Vendor

Product

Scheme

Affected versions

nvd

oracle

storagetek tape analytics sw tool

generic

2.3

nvd

oracle

virtual desktop infrastructure

generic

≤ 3.5.2

nvd

oracle

weblogic server

generic

10.3.6.0.0 · 12.1.2.0.0 · 12.1.3.0.0 · 12.2.1.0.0

Earlier manual review

A reviewer classified this CVE in an older dataset. We kept the labels and products below, but not the reviewer's reasoning.

## Manual Classification Context **Labels:** WEBLOGIC SERVER, T3, NO AUTH REMOTE EXPLOIT **Products:** ORACLE SUN SYSTEMS PRODUCTS SUITE, STORAGETEK TAPE ANALYTICS SW TOOL

References

URL	Tags
http://foxglovesecurity.com/2015/11/06/what-do-weblogic-websphere-jboss-jenkins-opennms-and-your-application-have-in-common-this-vulnerability/	Exploit
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152268/Oracle-Weblogic-Server-Deserialization-Remote-Code-Execution.html	Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/11/17/19	Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2017-3236618.html	Patch
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html	Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html	Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html	Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2015-4852-2763333.html	Vendor Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2016-2367955.html	Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/77539	Broken Link

URL

Timeline

Published	2015-11-18	By the CVE Program.
VulnCheck KEV: earliest evidence	2020-10-20	Date of the oldest evidence of exploitation in VulnCheck KEV's record. VulnCheck does not publish the date it listed the CVE.
Added to CISA KEV	2021-11-03	Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
VulnCheck KEV: latest evidence	2024-07-21	Date of the newest report, exploit reference or honeypot sighting in VulnCheck KEV's record.
NVD record modified	2026-06-17	NVD's own last-modified date for this record.
Classification created	2026-11-13	First commit adding this CVE's research note.
Last VRT activity	2026-11-13	Most recent commit touching this CVE's classification, patch or rule file.

Published

2015-11-18

By the CVE Program.

VulnCheck KEV: earliest evidence

2020-10-20

Date of the oldest evidence of exploitation in VulnCheck KEV's record. VulnCheck does not publish the date it listed the CVE.

Added to CISA KEV

2021-11-03

Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

VulnCheck KEV: latest evidence

2024-07-21

Date of the newest report, exploit reference or honeypot sighting in VulnCheck KEV's record.

NVD record modified

2026-06-17

NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

Classification created

2026-11-13

First commit adding this CVE's research note.

Last VRT activity

2026-11-13

Most recent commit touching this CVE's classification, patch or rule file.

How VRT decided (4 of 24 rules ran)

4 of 24 rules ran. The rest didn't run because an earlier rule had already settled the CVE.

# Rule Outcome Status Detail

identity: Does this identifier describe a vulnerability at all? the first rule that matches decides

1 rejected no match CVE Program withdrawal of this identifier

scope: Is it a vulnerability Waratek protects? the first rule that matches decides

2 armr-patch-file no match An ARMR patch file on disk for this CVE

3 armr-secure-rule-file no match An ARMR security-rule template on disk for this CVE

4 manual-classification decided it matched Protected by Waratek A researcher found this CVE protected by the ARMR Deserial sys rule, Marshal RCE rule.

5 manual classification not reached Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset

6 non-java-upstream not reached A root cause in non-Java code: an OS kernel, a C library, or a bundled runtime

7 oracle-component not reached The defect being in a component of a tracked product the agent does not reach: JavaFX, the Java SE installer, the JInitiator browser plug-in, the native WebLogic proxy plug-in, or a native part of Oracle Application Server or Collaboration Suite (HTTP Server, Web Cache, Internet Directory, mail and calendar servers). Oracle gives these no CPE of their own and names them only in the description.

8 java-client-side not reached Oracle's own risk-matrix note saying the CVE is reached only through untrusted code in the Java sandbox (applets, Web Start) or only through a client installation of Java, so a server running its own trusted code is not exposed

9 osv-maven not reached An OSV.dev record of this CVE affecting a package published to Maven Central. When every such package is one business applications do not use (Minecraft mods and launchers, Fastjson) and no tracked product is named by CPE, it settles the CVE as Outside Waratek scope instead

10 cna-maven-package not reached An affected Maven artifact named by the CNA itself

11 known-cpe-product not reached An NVD CPE naming a product ARMR tracks

12 cna-cpe-product not reached A CPE the CNA published naming a tracked product. Oracle publishes these on advisory day, months before NVD.

13 oracle-advisory-family not reached A tracked product family named in Oracle's own risk matrix. CPE cannot carry a suite name, only a module.

14 cna-named-product not reached A tracked product named in words by the CVE's own CNA, on a record with no CPE yet. Apache and Eclipse publish these on advisory day, before NVD adds CPE data.

15 non-deployable-product not reached The only affected product being a sealed appliance image, where Java runs but no -javaagent can be attached

16 unmatched-product not reached No tracked product matched above, and none present at all

disposition: What do we do about one that is? every rule runs

17 patch-hint not reached A reference pointing at the upstream fix: a commit, a PR, a Red Hat bug

18 open-source-maven not reached The affected package being open source on Maven, so the fix can be read

19 poc-derivable not reached An indexed exploit clearing the evidence bar to reverse-engineer, where there is no source to read

20 no-exploit not reached Nothing to build a rule from yet: no published exploit, no CISA record of exploitation and no source-level change to read

21 secure-rule-match not reached A vulnerability class already blocked by an ARMR security rule

22 exploited-no-fix-or-poc not reached Somebody exploiting this CVE (a CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, or a CISA verdict of active exploitation), with no fix, source code or PoC to build a rule from

23 below-action-threshold not reached Medium or Low severity, no CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, no PoC clearing the evidence bar, no CISA verdict, no Oracle advisory

24 no-exploit-published not reached Exploit code for this candidate, published in a reviewed catalogue or a GitHub repository with 5 or more stars, or in use per CISA or VulnCheck; not only a CISA verdict, a forecast, or nothing at all

NVD ↗ · CVE.org ↗