CVE-2002-1294 in Java Virtual Machine
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft Java implementation, as used in Internet Explorer, can provide HTML object references to applets via Javascript, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash due to illegal memory accesses) and possibly conduct other unauthorized activities via an applet that uses those references to access proprietary Microsoft methods.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1294 represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft's Java Runtime Environment implementation within Internet Explorer. This issue stems from the improper handling of HTML object references when JavaScript interacts with Java applets, creating a dangerous pathway for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects the way Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine processes object references passed from JavaScript to applets, leading to potential system compromise through unauthorized access to proprietary Microsoft methods. This flaw exists within the browser's Java plugin architecture and demonstrates a fundamental security weakness in the integration between web scripting languages and Java applet execution environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of JavaScript-to-Java applet communication channels within Internet Explorer's browser environment. When JavaScript code attempts to reference HTML objects that are subsequently passed to Java applets, the Microsoft Java implementation fails to properly validate or sanitize these references before allowing applet code to access them. This improper validation creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious applets that can exploit the reference handling mechanism to perform illegal memory operations. The vulnerability manifests as a potential denial of service condition where the targeted system crashes due to memory access violations, but more critically, it enables unauthorized access to Microsoft-proprietary methods that should remain protected from external interference.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer is the primary browser and Java applets are commonly used for web applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to cause system instability through denial of service attacks that crash browser sessions or even entire systems, while simultaneously gaining access to privileged Microsoft methods that could be used for further exploitation. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the ability to access proprietary Microsoft methods opens possibilities for privilege escalation and information disclosure. Organizations running legacy systems that depend on Java applets for business-critical applications face particular risk, as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues in software systems, and demonstrates how improper access control mechanisms can lead to unauthorized system access. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution through browser-based attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling Java applet support in Internet Explorer, applying available security patches from Microsoft, and implementing network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious Java content. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as disabling JavaScript-to-Java communication channels and implementing strict content security policies can significantly reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and monitoring for exploitation attempts should be conducted to ensure effective protection against this and similar vulnerabilities in the browser ecosystem.