CVE-2013-0433 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, and 5.0 through Update 38, and OpenJDK 6 and 7, allows remote attackers to affect integrity via unknown vectors related to Networking. NOTE: the previous information is from the February 2013 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from another vendor that this issue allows remote attackers to avoid triggering an exception during the deserialization of invalid InetSocketAddress data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0433 represents a critical security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment component that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This issue falls under the category of unspecified networking-related vulnerabilities that can be exploited remotely, making it particularly dangerous for systems running affected Java versions. The vulnerability specifically targets the deserialization process of InetSocketAddress data, which is a fundamental networking operation in Java applications. According to the February 2013 CPU disclosure, this flaw allows attackers to manipulate the integrity of network operations through unknown vectors, potentially leading to unauthorized data modification or system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of deserialization processes within the networking stack of Java implementations. When Java applications process network data containing serialized InetSocketAddress objects, the flawed implementation fails to properly validate or sanitize the input data, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious payloads that can bypass normal exception handling mechanisms. This deserialization flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at a low level within the Java runtime, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate network connections, redirect traffic, or corrupt network data integrity. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to improper input validation and deserialization issues indicates that it represents a fundamental weakness in how Java handles network object serialization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Java applications handle network communications and data processing. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, modify network traffic, or disrupt services by manipulating the underlying network connectivity of Java applications. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in cloud environments, web applications, and distributed systems where Java is extensively used. Systems running affected Java versions may experience unauthorized data manipulation, service disruption, or potential complete system compromise depending on the specific implementation and usage patterns of the affected applications.
Organizations affected by CVE-2013-0433 should immediately implement mitigation strategies focused on updating to patched versions of Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. The recommended approach includes applying the latest security patches from Oracle and OpenJDK maintainers to address the deserialization flaws in networking components. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict unnecessary network access to Java applications, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting controls and runtime protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability's relationship to the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566 (Phishing) suggests that exploitation may involve multiple attack vectors, requiring comprehensive defensive measures across network, application, and endpoint security controls.