CVE-2013-2437 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 21 and earlier and 6 Update 45 and earlier allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality via unknown vectors related to Deployment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2437 resides within the Java Runtime Environment component of Oracle Java SE, specifically affecting versions 7 Update 21 and earlier, as well as 6 Update 45 and earlier. This issue falls under the broader category of security flaws that can compromise the confidentiality of data processed within Java applications. The vulnerability is classified as unspecified, indicating that the exact technical details of the flaw were not fully disclosed in the initial advisory, though it was known to be related to the deployment functionality of the Java Runtime Environment.
The technical flaw manifests through unknown vectors specifically associated with the deployment mechanisms of Java applications. These deployment features typically handle the downloading, installation, and execution of Java applets and applications from remote sources. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that attackers could exploit various aspects of the deployment process to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. The deployment subsystem in Java JRE is responsible for managing the execution context of Java applications, including security policies, code validation, and resource access controls. When compromised, this subsystem can potentially allow attackers to bypass security restrictions and access sensitive data that should otherwise remain protected.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2437 extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it represents a significant weakness in Java's security architecture that could enable more sophisticated attacks. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive information stored within Java applications, intercept data transmission between applications and servers, or gain access to system resources that should be restricted. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation could occur without requiring physical access to the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Java applications are widely deployed. This vulnerability specifically impacts the Java Deployment Toolkit, which is responsible for managing the execution environment for Java applications and applets, creating potential attack surfaces that could be exploited to compromise entire systems.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns found in software security flaws, particularly those related to privilege escalation and information disclosure. The CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for such vulnerabilities typically falls under categories involving insufficient protection of sensitive information or improper access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under techniques involving privilege escalation and data access, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within networks where vulnerable Java applications are deployed. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of Java SE, disabling unnecessary Java deployment features, and implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the necessity of comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts in real-time environments.