CVE-2010-3541 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Networking component in Oracle Java SE and Java for Business 6 Update 21, 5.0 Update 25, 1.4.2_27, and 1.3.1_28 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors. NOTE: the previous information was obtained from the October 2010 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from a reliable downstream vendor that this is related to missing validation of request headers in the HttpURLConnection class when they are set by applets, which allows remote attackers to bypass the intended security policy.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3541 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE and Java for Business versions, specifically affecting Java 6 Update 21, Java 5.0 Update 25, and older versions including Java 1.4.2_27 and 1.3.1_28. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability within the Networking component, indicating that the exact technical mechanism was not fully disclosed in the initial reporting. The vulnerability's impact spans all three fundamental principles of information security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it particularly dangerous as it could potentially allow attackers to compromise any or all of these security aspects through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability was initially documented in Oracle's October 2010 Critical Patch Update, demonstrating the ongoing nature of security threats in enterprise Java environments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of request headers within the HttpURLConnection class when these headers are set by applets. This weakness creates a direct pathway for remote attackers to bypass the intended security policies that normally govern how network requests are processed within the Java runtime environment. When applets attempt to set request headers through the HttpURLConnection mechanism, the system fails to properly validate these headers against established security boundaries. This missing validation allows malicious actors to manipulate network requests in ways that should normally be restricted, effectively undermining the sandboxing mechanisms that protect Java applets from unauthorized network access. The vulnerability essentially creates a bypass condition where attacker-controlled headers can circumvent the security checks that would normally prevent such manipulations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations running affected Java versions, particularly those that deploy Java applets in web environments or rely on network connectivity within their applications. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, inject malicious content, or disrupt network services by manipulating how requests are processed through the HttpURLConnection class. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as the ability to affect availability means that attackers could potentially cause denial-of-service conditions by crafting specific header values that disrupt legitimate network operations. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Java applets are used for network communication, making it a serious concern for enterprise applications that depend on Java-based networking components.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation," and specifically relates to the failure to validate request headers in network communication components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers can bypass security policies that normally protect against unauthorized network access. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Oracle Java SE and Java for Business, implementing network monitoring to detect unusual header patterns, and reviewing existing Java applet deployments to identify potential exposure points. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling Java applets in web browsers where possible and implementing strict network access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation in network components and highlights the critical need for regular security updates in enterprise Java environments.