CVE-2005-1973 in Java Web Start
Summary
by MITRE
Java Web Start in Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0 and 5.0 Update 1 allows applications to assign permissions to themselves and gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1973 represents a critical security flaw in the Java Web Start functionality of Java 2 Platform Standard Edition versions 5.0 and 5.0 Update 1. This issue resides within the security model implementation of the Java runtime environment, specifically affecting how applications can request and receive security permissions during execution. The vulnerability stems from an improper permission assignment mechanism that allows malicious or compromised applications to escalate their privileges beyond what should be permitted by the security sandbox.
The technical flaw manifests when Java Web Start applications attempt to assign permissions to themselves through the security framework. Under normal circumstances, applications should be restricted to predefined permission sets that align with their intended functionality and security context. However, this vulnerability enables applications to bypass these restrictions and gain additional privileges that could potentially allow them to access restricted system resources, execute arbitrary code, or perform actions that would normally be prohibited. The flaw exists in the permission handling logic within the J2SE security model, creating an avenue for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it directly undermines the fundamental security principles of the Java platform's sandbox model. Attackers could exploit this flaw by crafting malicious Java Web Start applications that, when executed, would automatically assign themselves elevated permissions. This could lead to unauthorized access to local files, network communications, system information disclosure, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability affects all users running affected Java versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Java Web Start applications are commonly deployed. The privilege escalation capability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1973 should focus on immediate patching of affected Java installations to the latest available updates that address this specific security flaw. Organizations should also implement strict application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized Java Web Start applications from executing, particularly in environments where users have varying levels of system access. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious Java application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution through Java. System administrators should also consider disabling Java Web Start functionality entirely when it is not required for business operations, as this provides an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all Java installations remain up to date with the latest security patches and that no legacy vulnerable versions remain in production environments.