CVE-2015-4732 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 unknown vectors related to Libraries, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-2590.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
This vulnerability resides within Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded implementations across multiple versions including java 6u95 7u80 8u45 and embedded versions 7u75 and 8u33. The issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability affecting core library components of the java runtime environment. According to the cwe dictionary this represents a weakness in the design or implementation of java library functions that could potentially be exploited by remote attackers without requiring local system access. The vulnerability specifically impacts the confidentiality integrity and availability aspects of affected systems through unknown attack vectors that differ from the previously identified CVE-2015-2590. This classification indicates that the flaw exists within the foundational java libraries rather than application level code which makes it particularly dangerous as it could affect numerous applications running on vulnerable java versions. The attack surface is extensive since java libraries are commonly used across various enterprise applications and web services.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests it operates at the core library level where memory management or object handling functions might contain exploitable conditions. Based on standard java security patterns these types of vulnerabilities often stem from improper input validation or unsafe memory operations within the jvm library components. The fact that it affects multiple java versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the library implementation that was not properly addressed through the patching cycle. This vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple exploitation techniques might be possible including heap corruption or memory access violations that could lead to privilege escalation or information disclosure. The attack could be initiated remotely through network connections to java applications or web services that utilize vulnerable library components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across enterprise environments where java applications dominate the application landscape. Organizations running affected java versions face potential data breaches through confidentiality violations, system corruption through integrity compromises, and service disruption through availability attacks. The widespread use of java in enterprise applications means that a single vulnerable library could affect hundreds or thousands of systems simultaneously. This vulnerability particularly impacts web applications servers and enterprise applications that rely on java runtime environments for their operations. The attack could result in complete system compromise allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify system configurations, or completely disrupt service availability. Organizations may experience significant financial and operational losses due to potential data breaches or service interruptions caused by this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of all affected java versions to the latest secure releases from oracle. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable java versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit unnecessary java service exposure to external networks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable java installations. The implementation of java sandboxing mechanisms and restricted execution environments can provide additional layers of protection. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of java applications to known good binaries. According to the mitre att&ck framework this vulnerability would map to multiple tactics including privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques that attackers might employ when exploiting such library level vulnerabilities. System monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect any anomalous java process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security training for developers and system administrators should emphasize the importance of keeping java runtime environments updated and secure.