CVE-2013-0432 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 and integrity via vectors related to AWT. 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 "insufficient clipboard access premission checks."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0432 represents a critical security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This weakness resides within the AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) component, which serves as the foundational GUI toolkit for Java applications and is integral to the overall security posture of Java-based systems. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains partially obscured, though it is clearly tied to clipboard access permissions within the AWT subsystem. The affected versions span across Java 7 through Update 11, Java 6 through Update 38, Java 5.0 through Update 38, and older Java 1.4.2_40 releases, demonstrating the widespread impact across multiple Java version lines and the longevity of this particular security gap.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors that specifically target the AWT component's clipboard handling mechanisms. According to the February 2013 CPU disclosure, attackers can leverage insufficient permission checks within clipboard access controls to compromise system confidentiality and integrity. This suggests that malicious actors can potentially manipulate or access clipboard data without proper authorization, which could lead to information disclosure or data corruption scenarios. The AWT component's clipboard functionality is particularly sensitive because it handles data transfer between applications and can contain sensitive information such as passwords, personal data, or confidential documents. The vulnerability's relationship to clipboard access permission checks aligns with common security patterns found in CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-250 (Execute Code with Unnecessary Privileges) categories, where inadequate permission validation allows unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code or manipulate system data through clipboard-based attacks. When combined with other attack vectors, this weakness could facilitate more sophisticated exploitation techniques that leverage the clipboard as a staging area for malicious payloads or as a means to bypass security controls. The fact that this vulnerability affects both Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations indicates that organizations using either distribution are equally at risk, creating a broader attack surface across enterprise environments. The vulnerability's presence in older Java versions such as 1.4.2_40 also suggests that legacy systems may be particularly vulnerable, as these older releases often lack modern security hardening features and are frequently overlooked during security assessments.
Organizations affected by CVE-2013-0432 should implement immediate remediation strategies including prompt application of security patches from Oracle and OpenJDK vendors, along with network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework would likely fall under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1106 (Native API) techniques, as attackers may leverage clipboard manipulation to execute malicious code through system-level interactions. Additional mitigations should include disabling unnecessary Java applets, implementing strict network controls, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Java versions. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify suspicious clipboard access patterns or unauthorized data transfer activities. The vulnerability's nature as a permission control flaw emphasizes the importance of principle of least privilege implementations and regular security audits of Java-based applications and system configurations.