CVE-2013-0440 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 7, allows remote attackers to affect availability via vectors related to JSSE. 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 CPU consumption in the the SSL/TLS implementation via a large number of ClientHello packets that are not properly handled by (1) ClientHandshaker.java and (2) ServerHandshaker.java.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-0440 represents a significant security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment's secure socket layer implementation. This issue affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK, spanning from Java 7 through Update 11 down to older versions including Java 1.4.2_40 and earlier. The vulnerability specifically targets the JavaScript Secure Socket Extension component which forms a critical part of the SSL/TLS handshake process in Java applications. The flaw manifests as an unspecified weakness that allows remote attackers to potentially compromise system availability through carefully crafted network traffic.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of SSL/TLS handshake messages within the Java Secure Socket Extension implementation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending a large number of malformed ClientHello packets that are not properly validated or processed by the ClientHandshaker.java and ServerHandshaker.java components. These components are responsible for managing the initial handshake phase of SSL/TLS connections where clients and servers negotiate cryptographic parameters and establish secure communication channels. The improper handling of these packets leads to resource exhaustion or denial of service conditions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious availability risk for systems running affected Java versions. The exploitation technique involves consuming excessive CPU resources through the processing of malformed handshake packets, effectively creating a denial of service condition. This attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed remotely without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. Systems that rely heavily on Java-based applications and services become vulnerable to sustained attacks that can render them unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability affects both client and server implementations since both ClientHandshaker.java and ServerHandshaker.java components are impacted.
The security implications extend beyond simple denial of service to potentially compromise the overall integrity of Java-based secure communications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which covers "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and represents a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern. The attack methodology follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," where adversaries target system resources to prevent legitimate use of services. Organizations running affected Java versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited by automated tools to overwhelm system resources, potentially affecting critical infrastructure and business applications that depend on secure socket communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Java installations to the latest available updates from Oracle and OpenJDK maintainers. System administrators should prioritize updating all Java installations across their network infrastructure, particularly servers handling SSL/TLS connections. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and connection monitoring can provide additional defense in depth, though these measures are not substitutes for proper patch management. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns of SSL/TLS handshake activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other Java-based components and applications within the enterprise environment.