CVE-2010-4473 in JDK
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in Oracle Java SE and Java for Business 6 Update 23 and earlier, 5.0 Update 27 and earlier, and 1.4.2_29 and earlier allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Sound and unspecified APIs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4473 represents a critical security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and Java for Business. This unspecified vulnerability resides within the sound subsystem and unspecified APIs of the Java platform, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors. The affected versions include Java 6 Update 23 and earlier, Java 5.0 Update 27 and earlier, and Java 1.4.2_29 and earlier, indicating this issue spans across multiple generations of the Java runtime environment and has persisted for an extended period.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests a weakness in how the JRE handles audio processing components and associated APIs, though the exact implementation flaw remains unspecified in the public description. Such vulnerabilities in sound and audio APIs typically stem from improper input validation, memory management issues, or buffer overflows that can be triggered through malicious audio file processing or API calls. The unspecified API components likely refer to internal Java Sound APIs that handle audio data processing, playback, and system audio interactions. These components are particularly dangerous because they can be accessed through various Java applications and applets that utilize audio functionality, making the attack surface broad and potentially exploitable through web-based attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system confidentiality, integrity, and availability as indicated by the CVSS vector. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or cause system crashes and denial of service conditions. The remote exploitation capability means that malicious actors could leverage this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where Java applications are frequently executed. The sound-related nature of the vulnerability suggests that attacks might be initiated through malicious audio files, Java applets, or web content that triggers audio processing functionality, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer," and may also relate to CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," as audio processing components often require extensive input validation to prevent buffer overflows and memory corruption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could map to T1059.007 for Java-based command execution and potentially T1203 for exploitation of sound system APIs. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Java that were widely deployed in enterprise environments. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider disabling Java applets in web browsers where possible. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive vulnerability assessment across all Java installations, particularly in environments where audio processing functionality is utilized, and implementation of network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs.