CVE-2013-5904 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 7u45 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Deployment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5904 resides within Oracle Java SE 7u45 and specifically pertains to issues within the Deployment component of the Java platform. This designation as an unspecified vulnerability indicates that the exact technical details were not fully disclosed at the time of the initial report, though the impact scope was clearly defined as affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The Deployment component in Java SE is responsible for managing the execution and security of Java applications, particularly those downloaded from remote sources, making it a critical attack surface for remote exploitation.
The technical flaw within the Deployment subsystem likely involves weaknesses in how Java handles the execution of unsigned or poorly validated code from remote sources. This could manifest through improper validation of applet signatures, inadequate sandbox enforcement, or flaws in the Java plugin's handling of remote content. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that attackers could potentially leverage multiple attack vectors that all fall under the broader category of Deployment-related issues. These vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation, improper access controls, or flawed security model implementations within the Java runtime environment's deployment framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across all three fundamental security principles. Confidentiality risks arise when attackers can bypass security restrictions to access sensitive data or system information that should remain protected. Integrity threats occur when malicious actors can modify or corrupt data within the Java environment or execute unauthorized code that alters the system's expected behavior. Availability concerns emerge when remote attackers can cause denial of service conditions or system crashes through exploitation of the deployment component. The severity of these impacts is amplified by the widespread use of Java SE in enterprise environments and the common practice of enabling Java plugins in web browsers, creating numerous potential attack vectors for exploitation.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves immediate patching of all affected Java installations to the latest available versions, as Oracle would have released updates addressing the specific deployment flaws. Organizations should also consider disabling Java plugin execution in web browsers where possible, particularly for users who do not require Java-based applications. Network-level controls including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious Java-related traffic patterns. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting Java applet execution to trusted domains can significantly reduce exploitation risks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited scope, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through malicious Java applets. Regular security assessments of Java environments and monitoring for anomalous Java-related network activity should form part of ongoing security operations to detect potential exploitation attempts.