CVE-2013-2424 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 confidentiality via vectors related to JMX. 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 "insufficient class access checks" when "creating new instances" using MBeanInstantiator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2424 represents a critical security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment component that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This issue resides in the JMX (Java Management Extensions) functionality and has been classified as a confidentiality breach that can be exploited remotely by attackers. The vulnerability impacts Java SE versions 7 Update 17 and earlier, 6 Update 43 and earlier, and 5.0 Update 41 and earlier, alongside OpenJDK 6 and 7 versions, making it a widespread concern across the Java ecosystem. The initial disclosure in April 2013 indicated unspecified vector details related to JMX, suggesting the flaw operates within the management and monitoring capabilities of Java applications.
Technical analysis reveals that this vulnerability stems from insufficient class access checks within the MBeanInstantiator functionality, which is a core component of JMX architecture. The MBeanInstantiator is responsible for creating new instances of management beans, and the flaw occurs during this instantiation process where proper access controls are not adequately enforced. This weakness allows malicious actors to bypass normal security boundaries and potentially access restricted classes or methods that should be protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability specifically manifests when creating new instances through the MBeanInstantiator, which falls under CWE-284 access control violations and represents a direct breach of the principle of least privilege. The flaw essentially permits attackers to manipulate the instantiation process and gain access to sensitive components that should remain protected within the Java runtime environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2424 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to perform more sophisticated attacks within Java applications. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or access confidential data through manipulated JMX operations. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive management interfaces, potentially leading to complete system compromise when combined with other vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's presence in both Oracle's proprietary JRE and OpenJDK implementations creates a broad attack surface that affects countless Java applications and services across various platforms and deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2424 primarily involve immediate patching and updating of affected Java installations to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should prioritize updating their Java Runtime Environments to the latest available versions that address this specific vulnerability, as Oracle and OpenJDK maintain regular security updates to resolve such issues. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide additional protection by limiting access to JMX interfaces, particularly when JMX is exposed on public networks. The implementation of proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for JMX services can help reduce the risk of exploitation, although the core vulnerability requires proper patching to be fully resolved. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual JMX activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and organizations should consider implementing application firewalls or intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Given the nature of the flaw as an access control issue, the mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, requiring both immediate remediation and ongoing monitoring of Java application security posture.