CVE-2015-2628 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 6u95, 7u80, and 8u45, and Java SE Embedded 7u75 and 8u33 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to CORBA.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2628 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded implementations that affects multiple versions including Java SE 6u95, 7u80, 8u45, and their embedded counterparts. This vulnerability resides within the CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) component of the Java runtime environment, which serves as a middleware for distributed object communication across networked applications. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that the exact technical flaw within the CORBA implementation has not been publicly disclosed in detail, though its classification suggests significant security implications for systems utilizing Java's distributed computing capabilities.
The technical flaw within the CORBA subsystem stems from inadequate input validation and potential memory corruption issues that can be exploited through specially crafted malicious inputs. CORBA is designed to enable communication between objects across different platforms and programming languages, making it a critical component in enterprise distributed applications. When remote attackers can manipulate CORBA requests or responses, they may be able to execute arbitrary code, read sensitive data, or cause system instability. This vulnerability specifically impacts the way Java handles CORBA object references and method invocations, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls that should prevent unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2628 extends beyond simple confidentiality breaches as it affects all three pillars of the CIA triad. Attackers can potentially compromise system availability through denial-of-service conditions that crash Java applications or entire systems. Integrity is at risk as malicious inputs could modify system state or corrupt data during CORBA operations. Confidentiality suffers when attackers can extract sensitive information from system memory or intercepted communications, particularly in environments where Java applications handle sensitive business data or personal information. Systems running affected Java versions in enterprise environments, particularly those with distributed applications, are highly vulnerable to exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Oracle security patches and updates for Java SE and Java SE Embedded versions. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to CORBA services where possible, particularly limiting exposure to untrusted networks. The implementation of application whitelisting policies can prevent unauthorized Java applications from executing, reducing attack surface. Additionally, monitoring and logging of CORBA-related activities should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper access to memory locations, and represents a potential technique for privilege escalation and lateral movement within enterprise networks, making it relevant to ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and defense evasion. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable Java versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place.