CVE-2013-0401 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 17 and earlier, 6 Update 43 and earlier, and 5.0 Update 41 and earlier; and OpenJDK 6 and 7; allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to AWT, as demonstrated by Ben Murphy during a Pwn2Own competition at CanSecWest 2013. NOTE: the previous information is from the April 2013 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from another vendor that this issue is related to invocation of the system class loader by the sun.awt.datatransfer.ClassLoaderObjectInputStream class, which allows remote attackers to bypass Java sandbox restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0401 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This vulnerability specifically targets the AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) component and was demonstrated during the Pwn2Own competition at CanSecWest 2013, highlighting its severe exploitation potential. The flaw exists in Java SE versions 7 Update 17 and earlier, 6 Update 43 and earlier, 5.0 Update 41 and earlier, as well as OpenJDK versions 6 and 7, making it a widespread issue affecting numerous enterprise and consumer systems. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-502 which describes "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" and represents a significant bypass of Java's security sandbox mechanisms.
The technical exploitation mechanism leverages the sun.awt.datatransfer.ClassLoaderObjectInputStream class which improperly handles system class loader invocation during data transfer operations. This flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious serialized data that when processed by the vulnerable JRE can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Java application. The vulnerability specifically exploits the trust model within Java's serialization framework where the system class loader can be manipulated to load malicious classes from untrusted sources. This represents a fundamental breakdown in Java's security architecture where the sandbox restrictions designed to prevent unauthorized code execution are bypassed through careful manipulation of the class loading process. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction and can be delivered through common network protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe across enterprise environments where Java applications are commonly deployed, including web applications, desktop applications, and server-side systems. Organizations running affected Java versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction or specific privileges, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process untrusted input from remote sources. This flaw directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1078.004 which addresses "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" in the context of privilege escalation. The vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, and gain further access to network resources. Additionally, the impact extends to cloud environments where Java-based applications are commonly deployed, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire virtualized infrastructures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0401 require immediate patching of all affected Java installations to the latest available versions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of Java applications to untrusted networks and disable unnecessary Java applet execution. The deployment of Web Application Firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that no vulnerable Java versions remain in production environments. Security administrators should also consider implementing Java security policies that restrict class loading and serialization operations, particularly for applications processing untrusted data. The vulnerability's resolution requires updating to Oracle Java SE 7 Update 18 or later, 6 Update 44 or later, and 5.0 Update 42 or later, while OpenJDK users should upgrade to the corresponding secure versions. Organizations should also consider disabling Java applets entirely in browsers and implementing application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized Java applications.