CVE-2010-3574 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 HttpURLConnection does not properly check for the allowHttpTrace permission, which allows untrusted code to perform HTTP TRACE requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3574 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE and Java for Business implementations that affects multiple version streams including Java 6 Update 21, Java 5.0 Update 25, and older legacy versions. This unspecified vulnerability exists within the Networking component of the Java runtime environment and demonstrates the complexity of modern software security where flaws can manifest across multiple layers of system architecture. The vulnerability's classification as affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability indicates a severe impact potential that aligns with common attack surface considerations found in network protocol implementations. The issue was originally documented in October 2010's CPU update cycle, suggesting this vulnerability had been present for several months before public disclosure, highlighting the importance of timely security patching in enterprise environments.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from improper permission checking within the HttpURLConnection class implementation, specifically failing to validate the allowHttpTrace permission before executing HTTP TRACE requests. This flaw represents a direct violation of proper access control mechanisms and demonstrates how insufficient permission validation can create pathways for malicious actors to exploit network communication protocols. The vulnerability's nature aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, where inadequate permissions checks allow unauthorized operations to proceed. The flaw particularly affects applications that rely on HTTP TRACE functionality, which can be leveraged for various attack vectors including information disclosure and potential service disruption. The fact that this vulnerability was initially reported by a downstream vendor rather than directly from Oracle indicates the complexity of tracking security issues through the software supply chain and the importance of vendor collaboration in vulnerability disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3574 extends beyond simple network communication concerns to encompass potential data breaches, service availability disruption, and system integrity compromise. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized HTTP TRACE operations that might reveal sensitive information about server configurations or internal network structures, directly violating information confidentiality principles. The ability to manipulate HTTP TRACE requests also opens possibilities for service disruption attacks, where malicious actors could exhaust server resources or manipulate responses to cause availability issues. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise applications that process untrusted data or execute code from external sources, as the lack of proper permission checking creates an attack vector for code injection and privilege escalation scenarios. The vulnerability's presence in legacy Java versions demonstrates how security issues can persist across multiple release cycles, emphasizing the critical need for organizations to maintain up-to-date software versions and implement comprehensive patch management strategies.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Oracle security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and reviewing application code for potential reliance on vulnerable HTTP TRACE functionality. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security testing to identify applications that may be exploiting the vulnerability, particularly those that handle untrusted network input. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized HTTP TRACE requests and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and information gathering through network protocols, making it a significant concern for organizations following the MITRE ATT&CK matrix for threat analysis and defense planning. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the need for continuous security assessment of network communication components in enterprise environments.