CVE-2013-2443 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 21 and earlier, 6 Update 45 and earlier, and 5.0 Update 45 and earlier, and OpenJDK 7, allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality via unknown vectors related to Libraries, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-2452 and CVE-2013-2455. NOTE: the previous information is from the June 2013 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from another vendor that this issue is due to an incorrect "checking order" within the AccessControlContext class.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2443 represents a security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This issue specifically targets the Libraries component of the JRE and was identified as part of Oracle's June 2013 Critical Patch Update. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism was not fully disclosed in the initial advisory, though it was confirmed to be distinct from other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2013-2452 and CVE-2013-2455. The affected versions span across Java 7 Update 21 and earlier, Java 6 Update 45 and earlier, Java 5.0 Update 45 and earlier, as well as OpenJDK 7, demonstrating the widespread impact across different Java versions and implementations.
Technical analysis suggests this vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the Java security framework, particularly involving the AccessControlContext class. The referenced "incorrect checking order" indicates a potential flaw in how security permissions are evaluated and validated within the Java runtime environment. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of security bypass flaws where malicious actors could potentially circumvent intended security restrictions through manipulation of the access control evaluation sequence. The weakness likely resides in the way Java's security manager processes permission checks and evaluates security contexts, potentially allowing unauthorized code execution or information disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2443 is significant as it affects the fundamental security model of the Java runtime environment, which is widely deployed across enterprise applications, web applications, and desktop environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive data, manipulate security restrictions, and compromise the confidentiality of information processed within Java applications. The remote nature of the attack vector means that malicious actors could exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where Java applications are exposed to external threats. Organizations running affected Java versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized system access, and compromise of critical business applications that rely on Java runtime security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected Java installations to the latest available versions that contain fixes for this security issue. System administrators should prioritize updating Oracle Java SE installations to versions beyond the affected releases, particularly ensuring that Java 7 Update 25, Java 6 Update 47, and Java 5.0 Update 47 or later are deployed. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to Java-enabled services where possible, while conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any applications running on affected Java versions. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious network activity and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, as it could enable attackers to bypass Java security restrictions and maintain persistent access to compromised systems. The issue also relates to CWE-284, which covers improper access control, and CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues, though the specific nature of this vulnerability primarily concerns access control implementation flaws within the Java security framework.