CVE-2013-5772 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java SE component in Oracle Java SE Java SE 7u40 and earlier and Java SE 6u60 and earlier allows remote attackers to affect integrity via unknown vectors related to jhat.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5772 resides within the Java SE component of Oracle's Java platform, specifically affecting Java SE 7u40 and earlier versions as well as Java SE 6u60 and earlier releases. This issue manifests as an unspecified vulnerability that impacts the integrity of the system through vectors associated with the jhat utility, which is a heap analysis tool included with the Java Development Kit. The jhat tool is designed to analyze heap dumps and provide insights into memory usage patterns, making it a valuable diagnostic instrument for Java developers and administrators. However, this particular vulnerability creates a security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system integrity without requiring authentication or specific privileges.
The technical flaw within the jhat utility stems from insufficient input validation and potentially unsafe memory handling practices that allow malicious actors to manipulate the tool's behavior through crafted inputs. While the exact nature of the vulnerability vectors remains unspecified in the CVE description, the impact on system integrity suggests that attackers could potentially modify or corrupt heap analysis data, potentially leading to information disclosure or system instability. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of software flaws that can be exploited to undermine the integrity of security mechanisms, which aligns with CWE-119 - Improper Access to Stored Data and CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation. The jhat utility's role in heap analysis makes it particularly susceptible to manipulation of memory structures, creating potential pathways for attackers to exploit the underlying Java runtime environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it represents a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks within Java-based environments. Remote attackers who can successfully exploit this vulnerability may be able to manipulate heap analysis results to hide malicious activities or create false positives that could mislead security monitoring systems. This type of integrity compromise can significantly undermine the trustworthiness of heap analysis data, which is crucial for debugging and security auditing purposes. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Java SE versions indicates a widespread issue that affects organizations running legacy Java installations, potentially exposing critical systems to persistent threats. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as attackers may use the compromised jhat utility to execute malicious code or manipulate system memory, though the specific attack vectors remain unspecified.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to patched versions of Java SE, as the vulnerability affects multiple major releases and represents a significant risk to system integrity. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Java installations are updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to systems running vulnerable Java versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review their heap analysis processes and implement additional validation checks to prevent manipulation of heap dump files. The vulnerability's nature suggests that organizations should consider alternative heap analysis tools or methodologies that do not rely on the vulnerable jhat utility, particularly in environments where security is paramount. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for this specific vulnerability to ensure complete remediation across all Java installations.