CVE-2010-0094 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment component in Oracle Java SE and Java for Business 6 Update 18 and 5.0 Update 23 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors. NOTE: the previous information was obtained from the March 2010 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from a reliable researcher that this is due to missing privilege checks during deserialization of RMIConnectionImpl objects, which allows remote attackers to call system-level Java functions via the ClassLoader of a constructor that is being deserialized.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0094 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle's Java Runtime Environment that affects Java SE and Java for Business versions 6 Update 18 and 5.0 Update 23. This unspecified vulnerability operates at the core of Java's serialization mechanism, specifically targeting the RMIConnectionImpl deserialization process. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this weakness without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where Java applications are deployed.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate privilege checks during the deserialization process of RMIConnectionImpl objects, which constitutes a fundamental security oversight in Java's remote method invocation framework. When Java applications deserialize objects received over a network connection, the system typically validates the integrity and authenticity of these objects before processing them. However, in this case, the missing privilege checks allow attackers to manipulate the deserialization flow by injecting malicious objects that can bypass normal security boundaries. This weakness specifically impacts the ClassLoader mechanism during object construction, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary system-level Java functions that should normally be restricted to privileged operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across all three fundamental security principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive information from systems through unauthorized data access, corrupt system data through malicious modifications, and disrupt service availability by causing system instability or crashes. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or local credentials. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Java-based applications are commonly deployed, as it can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to critical business systems and data repositories.
The security implications of CVE-2010-0094 align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through Java deserialization. Organizations running affected Java versions face significant risk of compromise, as this vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent access to target systems. The attack vector typically involves crafting specially crafted serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable Java runtime, trigger the execution of unauthorized code within the context of the running Java process. Given that Java applications often run with elevated privileges, successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of Java in enterprise applications, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to gain unauthorized access to corporate networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0094 primarily involve applying the official security patches released by Oracle as part of their regular patch Tuesday updates. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Java versions that contain the necessary fixes for this deserialization vulnerability, specifically ensuring that systems are running Java 6 Update 19 or later, and Java 5.0 Update 24 or later. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict unnecessary RMI traffic, and application-level restrictions should be configured to limit the deserialization of untrusted data. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual deserialization activities, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar serialization-based attacks that continue to be prevalent in modern cybersecurity threats.