CVE-2013-2457 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 integrity via vectors related to JMX. 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 implementation of "certain class checks" that allows remote attackers to bypass intended class restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2457 represents a critical security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment component of Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations. This vulnerability affects multiple versions including Java SE 7 Update 21 and earlier, Java SE 6 Update 45 and earlier, Java SE 5.0 Update 45 and earlier, as well as OpenJDK 7. The issue specifically relates to JMX (Java Management Extensions) functionality and allows remote attackers to compromise system integrity through unspecified vectors. The vulnerability was originally documented in the June 2013 Critical Patch Update (CPU) and demonstrates the complexity of Java security implementations where seemingly minor flaws can have significant operational consequences.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from what appears to be an incorrect implementation of certain class checks within the JMX subsystem of the Java Runtime Environment. This flaw creates a bypass mechanism that allows remote attackers to circumvent intended class restrictions that should normally prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system components. The improper class validation implementation creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate JMX operations and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources. This weakness falls under the category of improper access control mechanisms as defined by CWE-284, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions for management interfaces.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running affected Java versions, particularly those exposed to untrusted networks or with JMX services enabled. The ability to affect integrity means that attackers could potentially modify system configurations, manipulate management data, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive operational information. The remote nature of the attack vector eliminates the need for local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for web applications and services that expose JMX interfaces to external networks. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities, and T1071 which covers application layer protocols used for command and control communications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching of all affected Java installations to the latest available versions. The recommended mitigation strategy includes updating to Java SE 7 Update 25 or later, Java SE 6 Update 47 or later, and Java SE 5.0 Update 47 or later, or upgrading to OpenJDK 7 or later versions. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling JMX interfaces when not required, implementing proper network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious JMX activity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential impact of inadequate access control implementations in enterprise Java environments. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting JMX services and establish proper baseline configurations that minimize attack surface exposure.