CVE-2013-0351 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 through Update 11 and 6 through Update 38 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Deployment, a different vulnerability than other CVEs listed in the February 2013 CPU.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0351 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle's Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Java SE including Java 7 through Update 11 and Java 6 through Update 38. This issue specifically relates to the Deployment component of the JRE, which handles the execution and management of Java applications in web environments. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified means that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it is categorized as a remote attack vector that can compromise all three fundamental security properties of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The February 2013 CPU (Critical Patch Update) referenced in the description indicates this vulnerability was part of a broader set of security issues addressed by Oracle during that time period, but it was distinct from other vulnerabilities in that same release cycle.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within the realm of remote code execution risks that can be exploited through web-based attack vectors. The Deployment component in question is responsible for handling Java applets and web-based Java content, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise systems through browser-based attacks. This component typically operates with elevated privileges when executing Java content in web browsers, creating a potential attack surface that could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability's relationship to the broader Java security framework means that exploitation could potentially bypass standard security restrictions imposed by the Java sandbox model, which is designed to isolate Java applications from the underlying operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0351 extends beyond simple confidentiality breaches, as the vulnerability affects all three core security tenets of the CIA triad. Attackers could potentially exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify system configurations, or cause system downtime through availability disruption. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Java applets are commonly used in business applications. Organizations running affected Java versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks, as the vulnerability could serve as a foothold for more extensive attacks.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability with immediate urgency, as the unspecified nature of the flaw indicates a potentially severe security weakness that could be actively exploited in the wild. The vulnerability's presence in both Java 6 and Java 7 versions suggests a widespread impact across multiple generations of Oracle's Java platform, requiring comprehensive patch management across affected systems. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of Oracle Java SE, as the vulnerability's classification as a deployment-related issue means that even seemingly secure web applications could become compromised through malicious Java applets. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, while also mapping to CWE categories involving unspecified security flaws in runtime environments. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where Java applets are frequently used for business-critical applications, as these systems could become immediate targets for exploitation.