CVE-2000-0132 in Virtual Machine
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Java Virtual Machine allows remote attackers to read files via the getSystemResourceAsStream function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0132 resides within the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine implementation that enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized file access operations through the getSystemResourceAsStream function. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the Java runtime environment that was prevalent during the early 2000s era of Microsoft's Java support. The vulnerability specifically affects systems running Microsoft's implementation of the Java Virtual Machine which was integrated into various Windows operating systems and applications during that time period.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the getSystemResourceAsStream function. This function is designed to retrieve system resources as input streams, but due to inadequate boundary checking and path validation, attackers could manipulate the function parameters to traverse file system directories and access files outside the intended resource scope. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal file system access controls and read arbitrary files on the system where the vulnerable JVM is running. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that maps to CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-23 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially confidential user information. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to read system configuration files, application data, user credentials stored in plain text, or other sensitive resources that should normally be protected from unauthorized access. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker could exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 Data from Local System and T1083 File and Directory Discovery, as it enables adversaries to enumerate and access system resources that should remain protected.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the appropriate security patches provided by Microsoft, which would have included updates to the Java Virtual Machine implementation to properly validate input parameters and restrict file system access. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable Java components. Additionally, disabling unnecessary Java applet execution and implementing proper network monitoring can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in runtime environments, particularly for systems that process untrusted input through system functions. Security practitioners should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Java code that could leverage such vulnerabilities. This particular vulnerability demonstrates how legacy Java implementations in operating systems could introduce significant security risks when proper security controls are not implemented in the runtime environment.