CVE-2013-2417 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in 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 affect availability via unknown vectors related to Networking. 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 an information leak involving InetAddress serialization. CVE has not investigated the apparent discrepancy between vendor reports regarding the impact of this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2417 represents a significant security weakness within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This issue resides within the networking component of the Java platform, specifically impacting the handling of InetAddress serialization operations. The vulnerability was initially documented in the April 2013 Critical Patch Update from Oracle, though the precise technical details remain somewhat ambiguous in the official reporting. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to disrupt system availability, though the exact attack surface has not been definitively established by Oracle's own investigation.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of network address information during serialization processes within the Java networking stack. When Java applications process network addresses through InetAddress objects, the serialization mechanism may be susceptible to manipulation that could lead to denial of service conditions or other availability impacts. This particular vulnerability falls under the broader category of networking-related security flaws that can be exploited to compromise system stability and service availability. The issue's classification as an information leak potential according to some vendor reports indicates that the vulnerability might also expose sensitive network information during the serialization process, which could be leveraged by attackers to gain additional insights about the target system's network configuration.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2417 extends beyond simple availability disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of network communications within Java applications. Systems running affected Java versions could experience service degradation or complete unavailability when malicious actors exploit the serialization flaw, particularly in environments where network services are heavily utilized. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Java implementations including Oracle's commercial Java SE releases and the open source OpenJDK distribution, making it relevant across both enterprise and community deployments. Organizations utilizing Java-based network applications, web services, or any system that relies on proper network address handling during serialization processes face potential exposure to this vulnerability.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper handling of network addresses and serialization processes, and potentially relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for availability disruption through network-based attacks. The lack of definitive information from Oracle regarding the exact attack vectors means that organizations should implement defensive measures proactively rather than waiting for complete technical details. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of all affected Java installations, network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for unusual network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation patterns related to InetAddress serialization attacks, particularly in environments where Java applications handle external network communications or data processing that involves network address information.