CVE-2013-0425 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 through Update 11, 6 through Update 38, 5.0 through Update 38, and 1.4.2_40 and earlier, and OpenJDK 6 and 7, allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Libraries, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-0428 and CVE-2013-0426. NOTE: the previous information is from the February 2013 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from another vendor that this issue is related to incorrect "access control checks" in the logging API that allow remote attackers to bypass Java sandbox restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0425 represents a significant security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This unspecified vulnerability resides within the libraries component of the Java ecosystem and was initially documented in the February 2013 Critical Patch Update. The affected versions include Java SE 7 through Update 11, Java SE 6 through Update 38, Java SE 5.0 through Update 38, and various earlier versions of Java 1.4.2, alongside OpenJDK 6 and 7 implementations. The vulnerability's classification as a library-related issue indicates that it operates at a foundational level within the Java runtime architecture, potentially affecting numerous applications and services that depend on the JRE for execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability appears to involve improper access control mechanisms within the logging API of Java, as suggested by reports from security vendors. This flaw allows remote attackers to bypass established Java sandbox restrictions that are designed to isolate untrusted code from critical system resources. The access control checks that should prevent unauthorized operations are apparently failing, creating a pathway for malicious actors to perform actions that should normally be restricted. The vulnerability's relationship to other concurrent issues such as CVE-2013-0428 and CVE-2013-0426 indicates that Oracle was addressing multiple weaknesses within the same component family, suggesting a systemic problem in how the logging and security modules interact within the JRE implementation. The specific nature of these access control failures aligns with common software security patterns where insufficient validation or enforcement of security boundaries creates exploitable conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0425 extends across multiple attack surfaces and can potentially compromise all three fundamental security principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive information that should remain protected within the confines of the Java sandbox, potentially exposing confidential data or system internals. The integrity aspect is compromised as attackers might be able to modify system behavior or inject malicious code that bypasses normal execution restrictions. Availability is threatened as the vulnerability could enable denial-of-service conditions or allow attackers to disrupt normal system operations through the bypassed security mechanisms. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications, applets, and any Java-based services running on affected systems, creating a broad attack surface that could be leveraged in various threat scenarios.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of systems running affected Java versions, as the vulnerability's potential for remote exploitation makes it a critical security concern. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches from Oracle and OpenJDK maintainers, which typically include fixes for the access control mechanisms within the logging API. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's nature suggests it could be used for lateral movement within networks. Security teams should review and update their Java deployment policies to ensure that only patched versions are running in production environments. Additionally, the vulnerability's classification under access control failure patterns aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and represents a potential technique in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for privilege escalation and sandbox bypass operations. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and runtime protection measures to provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts.