CVE-2002-1260 in Virtual Machine
Summary
by MITRE
The Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) APIs in Microsoft Virtual Machine (VM) 5.0.3805 and earlier allow remote attackers to bypass security checks and access database contents via an untrusted Java applet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1260 represents a critical security flaw in the Java Database Connectivity JDBC APIs within Microsoft Virtual Machine version 5.0.3805 and earlier releases. This issue specifically targets the security boundaries that should protect database resources from unauthorized access, creating a pathway for remote attackers to circumvent established security controls. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the JDBC implementation that fails to properly authenticate and authorize database access requests originating from untrusted Java applets. The flaw exists in the core security architecture of the Microsoft Virtual Machine, where database connection requests from applets are not adequately scrutinized for trustworthiness or authorization status. This allows malicious actors to exploit the JDBC interface to gain unauthorized access to database contents without proper authentication credentials or security permissions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems, and specifically relates to the failure of the Java Virtual Machine to properly enforce security boundaries between trusted and untrusted code execution environments. The flaw manifests when a Java applet running in an untrusted context attempts to establish database connections through JDBC APIs, bypassing the normal security checks that should occur. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of code execution and data access control, where the security model of the virtual machine fails to properly isolate database resources from potentially malicious code. The attack vector leverages the inherent trust model of the Java sandbox environment, where applets are expected to have limited access to system resources, but the JDBC implementation fails to properly enforce these limitations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized database access, creating potential for data exfiltration, data manipulation, and system compromise. Attackers can exploit this flaw to extract sensitive information from databases, potentially including personal data, financial records, or proprietary business information. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where Microsoft Virtual Machine is deployed in environments that process sensitive data or where database access is considered a critical security boundary. Organizations running vulnerable systems face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target systems or direct network access to the database servers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1260 should focus on immediate remediation through patching the Microsoft Virtual Machine to a version that properly enforces JDBC security controls. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate database systems from untrusted network zones and ensure that only authorized applications can access database resources. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting database access permissions and implementing proper authentication mechanisms. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling unnecessary JDBC functionality in the virtual machine environment and implementing proper code signing and certificate validation for all Java applets that require database access. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper security boundary enforcement in virtual machine implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all code execution environments that handle sensitive data access. The flaw also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of running outdated software components that may contain known vulnerabilities.