CVE-2005-0223 in Sun
Summary
by MITRE
The Software Development Kit (SDK) and Run Time Environment (RTE) 1.4.1 and 1.4.2 for Tru64 UNIX allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Java Virtual Machine hang) via object deserialization.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0223 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Tru64 UNIX Software Development Kit and Run Time Environment versions 1.4.1 and 1.4.2. This issue specifically affects the Java Virtual Machine implementation used in the Tru64 UNIX operating system environment, where remote attackers can exploit a weakness in the object deserialization process to cause system instability. The flaw manifests as a complete hang of the Java Virtual Machine, effectively rendering the affected system unavailable to legitimate users and applications that depend on the Java runtime environment. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of systems running these specific versions of the Tru64 UNIX SDK and RTE, potentially causing significant operational disruptions for organizations relying on this platform.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of serialized object data during the deserialization process within the Java Virtual Machine implementation. When maliciously crafted serialized objects are processed by the affected runtime environment, the deserialization routine fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming data, leading to an infinite loop or resource exhaustion that causes the JVM to hang indefinitely. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and can be classified as CWE-400, specifically related to resource exhaustion or uncontrolled resource consumption. The flaw occurs at the level of the Java serialization mechanism where the system attempts to reconstruct objects from their serialized form, and the lack of adequate bounds checking or error handling in the deserialization process creates an exploitable condition that remote attackers can leverage.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-0223 extends beyond simple system unavailability to potentially disrupt critical business operations that depend on Tru64 UNIX systems running affected Java applications. Organizations utilizing these specific SDK and RTE versions may experience complete service outages when attackers exploit this vulnerability, particularly in environments where Java applications are integral to business processes. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can target systems from anywhere on the network without requiring local access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be exposed to external threats. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through the exploitation of software vulnerabilities, and represents a significant risk to system availability and business continuity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators and security teams to address the exposed systems. The primary recommended approach involves upgrading to a patched version of the Tru64 UNIX SDK and RTE that resolves the deserialization flaw, as this represents the most effective long-term solution to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, defensive measures such as disabling unnecessary Java applications or implementing application whitelisting can reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in runtime environments, particularly when handling serialized data that originates from untrusted sources, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and patch management in enterprise computing environments.