CVE-2013-2447 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 Networking. NOTE: the previous information is from the June 2013 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from another vendor that this issue allows remote attackers to obtain a socket s local address via vectors involving inconsistencies between Socket.getLocalAddress and InetAddress.getLocalHost.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2447 represents a significant security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This unspecified vulnerability specifically targets the networking component of the JRE, creating potential exposure points that could be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system confidentiality. The issue was initially documented in the June 2013 Critical Patch Update from Oracle, highlighting the severity of the networking-related weakness that exists in the affected Java versions.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from inconsistencies in how socket local addresses are handled within the Java networking stack, particularly between the Socket.getLocalAddress() method and InetAddress.getLocalHost() functionality. These inconsistencies create potential information disclosure scenarios where attackers could potentially obtain sensitive socket local address information through carefully crafted network requests. The flaw operates at the protocol level where the JRE's networking implementation fails to properly synchronize or validate address resolution between different network interface components, creating a vector for unauthorized information gathering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to gather intelligence about network configurations and potentially facilitate more sophisticated attacks. When attackers can obtain socket local addresses, they gain insights into the underlying network topology and system configuration that could be leveraged for further exploitation. This information could help attackers identify network segments, determine system roles, or plan more targeted attacks against specific network services. The vulnerability affects systems running affected Java versions across multiple operating systems where the JRE is installed, making it a widespread concern for enterprise environments.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) framework, where this issue aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and potentially CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) depending on the specific exploitation scenario. The ATT&CK (Attack Tree) framework would categorize this under Initial Access and Credential Access phases, as the ability to obtain local socket addresses represents a reconnaissance capability that could precede more serious attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems to address this vulnerability, as the information disclosure potential could enable attackers to craft more effective attacks against the targeted systems.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Oracle's security patches for Java SE versions 7 Update 21 and earlier, 6 Update 45 and earlier, and 5.0 Update 45 and earlier, along with updating OpenJDK 7 installations. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit unnecessary network access to Java applications, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual network activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls to restrict execution of untrusted Java applications and ensure that only authorized network services are accessible from Java runtime environments. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar networking inconsistencies in other application components and system libraries.