CVE-2014-0416 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 5.0u55, 6u65, and 7u45; Java SE Embedded 7u45; and OpenJDK 7 allows remote attackers to affect integrity via vectors related to JAAS. NOTE: the previous information is from the January 2014 CPU. Oracle has not commented on third-party claims that the issue is related to how principals are set for the Subject class, which allows attackers to escape the sandbox using deserialization of a crafted Subject instance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0416 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK implementations that affects multiple version ranges including Java SE 5.0u55, 6u65, 7u45, Java SE Embedded 7u45, and OpenJDK 7. This weakness resides within the Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) framework, specifically impacting how principals are handled within the Subject class during deserialization processes. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-284 Access Control and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 Privilege Escalation through sandbox escape mechanisms. The issue stems from inadequate validation of serialized Subject objects which can lead to unauthorized privilege escalation and complete compromise of the Java runtime environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through deserialization of maliciously crafted Subject instances that contain specially constructed principals. When the Java runtime processes these serialized objects, the flawed implementation allows attackers to manipulate the Subject's principal set in ways that bypass normal security boundaries. This deserialization flaw enables attackers to escape the Java sandbox restrictions that typically protect against unauthorized code execution and system access. The vulnerability specifically targets the Subject class's handling of security principals, where the deserialization process fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming serialized data, creating an opportunity for privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to any system running affected Java versions, particularly in enterprise environments where Java applications often operate with elevated privileges. The ability to escape sandbox restrictions means that attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Java process, which could lead to complete system compromise. This vulnerability affects not only web applications but also desktop applications, server-side applications, and any environment where Java is used to process untrusted input. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
Organizations should immediately apply the security patches released by Oracle for Java SE versions 5.0u55, 6u65, and 7u45, as well as the corresponding OpenJDK updates. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, particularly for systems running Java applications that process untrusted data. The mitigation strategy should include disabling unnecessary Java applets, implementing proper input validation for all user-supplied data, and monitoring for suspicious deserialization activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any applications that may be vulnerable to this type of attack vector, particularly those that deserialize data from external sources without proper validation. The remediation process should also include updating security monitoring tools to detect potential exploitation attempts involving JAAS-related deserialization patterns.