CVE-2014-0878 in Java SDK
Summary
by MITRE
The IBMSecureRandom component in the IBMJCE and IBMSecureRandom cryptographic providers in IBM SDK Java Technology Edition 5.0 before Service Refresh 16 FP6, 6 before Service Refresh 16, 6.0.1 before Service Refresh 8, 7 before Service Refresh 7, and 7R1 before Service Refresh 1 makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms by predicting the random number generator s output.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0878 affects the IBMSecureRandom cryptographic component within IBM SDK Java Technology Edition implementations across multiple versions. This weakness resides in the cryptographic random number generation functionality that is critical for secure key generation, session token creation, and other security-sensitive operations within Java applications. The flaw fundamentally undermines the cryptographic integrity of systems relying on these IBM-provided cryptographic providers, creating significant risks for applications that depend on secure random number generation for their security posture.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient entropy and predictable patterns in the random number generator algorithm used by the IBMSecureRandom component. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic randomness as defined by CWE-330, where the random number generator produces outputs that can be statistically predicted or reverse-engineered by attackers. The vulnerability affects multiple IBM SDK versions including Java 5.0, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7R1, with specific service refresh levels indicating the scope of affected releases. Attackers with context-dependent knowledge can exploit this weakness to compromise cryptographic protections by analyzing and predicting the output sequences of the random number generator.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it directly enables attackers to compromise cryptographic security mechanisms that depend on secure random number generation. Systems utilizing affected IBM SDK versions become vulnerable to attacks targeting session tokens, cryptographic key generation, and other security protocols that rely on unpredictable random values. This weakness can lead to session hijacking, key recovery attacks, and the potential compromise of encrypted communications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1583.001, which involves creating or using malicious code, particularly in the context of cryptographic attacks that exploit weaknesses in security implementations. Organizations running applications that depend on IBM SDK Java technology may experience unauthorized access, data breaches, and the complete subversion of cryptographic protections designed to secure their systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected IBM SDK versions to the latest service refresh levels that address the random number generator weakness. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious cryptographic behavior and consider implementing additional entropy sources or alternative random number generation mechanisms where possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the necessity of regular security updates for cryptographic libraries. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected IBM SDK installations and conducting thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred during the vulnerability's active period.