CVE-2014-0452 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 6u71, 7u51, and 8, and Java SE Embedded 7u51, allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to JAX-WS, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0458 and CVE-2014-2423.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
This vulnerability resides within Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded implementations, specifically affecting versions 6u71, 7u51, 8, and Embedded 7u51. The flaw manifests in the JAX-WS component which is part of the Java API for XML Web Services, a critical framework for building and consuming web services in Java applications. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it operates within the broader context of Java's security architecture and web service processing capabilities. This weakness creates a potential attack surface where remote adversaries can manipulate the system's core security controls through JAX-WS related operations, representing a significant departure from previously known vulnerabilities such as CVE-2014-0458 and CVE-2014-2423 which targeted different components within the Java ecosystem. The vulnerability's impact spans all three fundamental security properties defined by the CIA triad, meaning attackers could potentially compromise confidentiality by accessing sensitive data, integrity by modifying system information, and availability by disrupting services through the JAX-WS processing mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting malicious XML requests or web service interactions that leverage flaws in how JAX-WS handles incoming data within the Java runtime environment. Attackers can potentially trigger remote code execution or system compromise by manipulating the web service processing pipeline, particularly when the affected Java applications process untrusted input through JAX-WS interfaces. This represents a serious concern for enterprise environments where Java applications frequently interact with external systems through web services, as the attack surface expands beyond simple network boundaries into the application logic itself. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Java versions including the latest major releases indicates a fundamental flaw in the core web service processing infrastructure that affects both desktop and embedded Java implementations. The lack of specific technical details in the vulnerability description suggests that Oracle may have classified this as a complex issue requiring careful handling, potentially involving memory corruption, object manipulation, or other low-level security flaws within the JAX-WS implementation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations running Java-based web services, particularly those that process external data through JAX-WS interfaces. The potential for remote code execution combined with the broad impact across multiple Java versions means that organizations must urgently assess their Java deployment environments and identify applications that rely on JAX-WS functionality. System administrators and security teams face the challenge of determining which applications are exposed to this vulnerability without detailed technical analysis, as the unspecified nature of the flaw makes it difficult to perform precise risk assessments. The vulnerability's relationship to other security issues like CVE-2014-0458 and CVE-2014-2423 suggests that Oracle's Java security team identified multiple weaknesses within the web service processing subsystem, indicating a pattern of architectural concerns rather than isolated incidents. Organizations must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability in their security posture, particularly in environments where Java applications handle sensitive data or provide critical services to external clients.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant Oracle security patches, which would address the specific JAX-WS implementation flaws. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit exposure by restricting access to Java applications that process external web service requests, particularly those using JAX-WS interfaces. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual XML processing patterns or web service interactions that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for remote code execution and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, making it a significant concern for threat detection systems. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized Java applications from executing, particularly in environments where the vulnerability might be exploited through malicious web service requests. The CWE mapping for such vulnerabilities typically involves categories related to web service processing, XML parsing, or object-oriented security flaws, with potential mappings to CWE-79 for input validation issues or CWE-119 for memory corruption vulnerabilities that affect Java's runtime environment. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify all Java applications that may be exposed to this vulnerability, ensuring comprehensive protection across the entire enterprise infrastructure.