CVE-2013-3743 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 6 Update 45 and earlier and 5.0 Update 45 and earlier allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to AWT.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3743 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle's Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Java SE including Java 6 Update 45 and earlier, as well as Java 5.0 Update 45 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) component of the JRE, which serves as the foundation for GUI applications in Java. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that it encompasses multiple potential attack vectors related to AWT functionality that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The AWT component is responsible for creating graphical user interfaces and handling user interactions, making it a critical part of Java applications that process user input and display visual content. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems running affected Java versions, representing a severe threat to enterprise security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability within the AWT subsystem demonstrates how graphical components can serve as attack surfaces for sophisticated exploitation techniques. The AWT component manages windowing operations, event handling, and graphical rendering, which creates multiple potential entry points for malicious actors. When combined with the broader Java security model, this vulnerability allows attackers to potentially bypass security restrictions and execute arbitrary code on target systems. The vulnerability's classification under the unspecified category suggests it may involve multiple related issues such as buffer overflows, memory corruption, or improper input validation within AWT classes. These types of flaws often stem from inadequate bounds checking or improper handling of user-supplied data in graphical components, which can be manipulated through crafted input or malicious web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3743 extends far beyond simple exploitation, as it provides attackers with comprehensive control over affected systems through the manipulation of AWT components. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute remote code, manipulate system files, access sensitive data, or disrupt service availability. The confidentiality aspect of the vulnerability allows attackers to extract information from systems, while the integrity compromise enables data modification or corruption. The availability impact means that attackers could potentially cause denial of service conditions by crashing applications or consuming system resources through malicious AWT operations. Organizations running Java applications, particularly those with web-facing services or applications that process user input through graphical interfaces, face significant risk exposure. The vulnerability affects not only desktop applications but also web applications that utilize Java applets, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Java applets are commonly deployed for business applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3743 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Oracle's security updates, which typically include fixes for AWT-related vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of Java-enabled systems and disable Java applets in web browsers where possible. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running Java applications with minimal required permissions and restricting access to sensitive system resources. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious Java processes and network connections that may indicate exploitation attempts. According to CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classifications, this vulnerability likely maps to CWE-119 for memory corruption issues or CWE-20 for input validation problems within AWT components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, representing a classic remote code execution vector through graphical interface components. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their Java-based applications.