Web server request pattern consistent with Oracle WebLogic CVE-2020-14882 exploitation
Detects WebLogic console exploitation attempts by matching encoded traversal patterns in HTTP URI query strings.
- Category
- webserver
- Author
- Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2020-11-02
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Initial AccessRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags HTTP requests to WebLogic endpoints containing URL-encoded path traversal sequences targeting the console image and CSS paths. Attackers may use these crafted requests to reach unauthorized resources or trigger vulnerable behavior associated with CVE-2020-14882 attempts. Detection relies on webserver telemetry that records the full URI query string so the encoded traversal patterns can be matched.
Reporting behind it
- isc.sans.eduhttps://isc.sans.edu/diary/26734
- twitter.comhttps://twitter.com/jas502n/status/1321416053050667009?s=20
- twitter.comhttps://twitter.com/sudo_sudoka/status/1323951871078223874
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2020/Exploits/CVE-2020-14882/web_cve_2020_14882_weblogic_exploit.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: Web server request pattern consistent with Oracle WebLogic CVE-2020-14882 exploitation
id: 4ef93ecf-6ed5-480d-b18a-866f36f64367
status: test
description: This rule flags HTTP requests to WebLogic endpoints containing URL-encoded path traversal sequences targeting the console image and CSS paths. Attackers may use these crafted requests to reach unauthorized resources or trigger vulnerable behavior associated with CVE-2020-14882 attempts. Detection relies on webserver telemetry that records the full URI query string so the encoded traversal patterns can be matched.
references:
- https://isc.sans.edu/diary/26734
- https://twitter.com/jas502n/status/1321416053050667009?s=20
- https://twitter.com/sudo_sudoka/status/1323951871078223874
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2020/Exploits/CVE-2020-14882/web_cve_2020_14882_weblogic_exploit.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2020-11-02
modified: 2023-01-02
tags:
- attack.t1190
- attack.initial-access
- cve.2020-14882
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
category: webserver
detection:
selection:
cs-uri-query|contains:
- /console/images/%252E%252E%252Fconsole.portal
- /console/css/%2e
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 85d466b0-d74c-4514-84d3-2bdd3327588b
type: derived