CVE-2013-5838 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 7u25 and earlier, and Java SE Embedded 7u25 and earlier, allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Libraries.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5838 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded versions 7u25 and earlier. This unspecified vulnerability resides within the Java libraries component, which serves as a foundational element for numerous applications and systems relying on Java runtime environments. The affected versions encompass a broad range of Java implementations that were widely deployed across enterprise networks, web applications, and embedded systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a threat perspective.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from weaknesses within the Java library implementations that govern how applications interact with system resources and process data. While the exact vector remains unspecified in the initial description, such vulnerabilities typically arise from improper input validation, memory management issues, or flawed cryptographic implementations within the library components. These library-level flaws can potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code, manipulate data integrity, or disrupt system availability. The vulnerability's classification as affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability indicates a comprehensive impact that aligns with the principles of the CIA triad and represents a severe compromise of system security.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of CVE-2013-5838 extends across multiple attack surfaces given Java's pervasive use in enterprise environments. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or service disruption. The unspecified nature of the attack vector suggests that multiple exploitation paths may exist, increasing the difficulty of defending against potential attacks. Organizations running affected Java versions face significant risk as these vulnerabilities can be exploited through various means including web-based attacks, malicious file execution, or network-based exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability's presence in both Java SE and Java SE Embedded versions creates additional complexity in remediation efforts, as embedded systems often have limited update capabilities and may be deployed in environments where immediate patching is not feasible. Security professionals should consider implementing network segmentation, firewall rules, and monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation strategy should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest Java SE 7 updates, as Oracle has released patches addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Java versions and implement proper access controls to limit exposure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses "Improper Access to Memory" and potentially CWE-125 which deals with "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions. The attack patterns associated with such vulnerabilities often map to ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1210 for exploitation of remote services. The comprehensive impact affecting all three pillars of information security demonstrates the critical nature of addressing this vulnerability through both immediate patching and long-term security architecture improvements to prevent similar issues in future deployments.