CVE-2014-0428 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 confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to CORBA. NOTE: the previous information is from the January 2014 CPU. Oracle has not commented on third-party claims that the issue is related to "insufficient security checks in IIOP streams," which allows attackers to escape the sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0428 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 vulnerability resides within the CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) subsystem and operates at a fundamental level that compromises the core security model of the Java runtime environment. The issue stems from insufficient security checks within IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol) streams, which are essential components for distributed object communication in Java applications. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified by Oracle indicates the complexity and severity of the underlying flaw that affects the fundamental security boundaries of the Java platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of IIOP streams that traverse the CORBA framework, allowing attackers to bypass the sandbox restrictions that normally isolate Java applications from system resources. This flaw specifically targets the security mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to system components, potentially enabling remote code execution, data theft, and system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends across multiple Java versions and implementations, demonstrating the widespread nature of the underlying security weakness in the CORBA subsystem. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escape the Java sandbox environment, which represents a complete breakdown of the security model designed to protect against malicious code execution and unauthorized system access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments that rely on Java applications and services, particularly those utilizing CORBA for distributed computing. The availability impact is severe as the vulnerability can potentially cause system crashes or denial of service conditions when exploited, while the confidentiality and integrity implications are equally concerning as attackers can access sensitive data and modify system state. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can target vulnerable systems from external networks without requiring local access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for internet-facing Java applications. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-254, which addresses weaknesses in security checks, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application layer execution, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the Java runtime environment.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2014-0428 requires immediate patching of all affected Java installations across the enterprise infrastructure, with particular attention to systems running Java SE Embedded and OpenJDK implementations. Organizations should implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to Java applications and services, while also considering the deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should disable unnecessary CORBA functionality where possible and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems that may be running vulnerable Java versions. The mitigation approach should also include regular security updates and patch management processes to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are addressed promptly. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted Java applications, as this vulnerability represents a complete failure of sandbox security mechanisms that protects against code injection attacks and unauthorized system access.