CVE-2017-10293 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Java SE component of Oracle Java SE (subcomponent: Javadoc). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 6u161, 7u151, 8u144 and 9. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Java SE. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Java SE, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Java SE accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Java SE accessible data. Note: This vulnerability applies to Java deployments, typically in clients running sandboxed Java Web Start applications or sandboxed Java applets, that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security. This vulnerability does not apply to Java deployments, typically in servers, that load and run only trusted code (e.g., code installed by an administrator). CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10293 resides within the Java SE component of Oracle Java SE, specifically affecting the Javadoc subcomponent. This weakness manifests in Java SE versions 6u161, 7u151, 8u144, and 9, representing a significant security gap that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers with network access through HTTP protocols. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation makes it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal attacker prerequisites while offering substantial potential for compromise. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 6.1, indicating a medium severity level with specific impacts to confidentiality and integrity, as reflected in the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Javadoc processing functionality, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate or inject malicious code through web-based interfaces. This vulnerability operates within the Java sandbox environment where applications typically execute in restricted environments designed to prevent unauthorized system access. However, the flaw allows for bypassing these security boundaries when untrusted code is loaded and executed within sandboxed Java Web Start applications or applets. The attack scenario requires human interaction from users who are not the attackers themselves, typically involving the execution of malicious code through web-based interfaces where users might unknowingly interact with compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate Java SE environment, potentially affecting additional products that depend on Java components. Successful exploitation can enable unauthorized modification, insertion, or deletion of data within Java SE accessible resources, while also providing unauthorized read access to specific subsets of Java SE data. This dual impact on both confidentiality and integrity represents a significant risk to data security and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets deployments in client environments where untrusted code execution is common, particularly in scenarios involving Java Web Start applications or applets that load content from untrusted sources such as the internet.
The security implications of CVE-2017-10293 align with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) categories, reflecting fundamental flaws in input sanitization and memory management within Java's documentation processing components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of web applications and sandbox bypass mechanisms, specifically targeting the privilege escalation and persistence capabilities that could be leveraged by attackers. Organizations running vulnerable Java installations should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of network segmentation controls to limit potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's applicability is limited to client-side deployments that execute untrusted code, making server-side Java installations that run only trusted code immune to this specific threat vector. Security administrators must implement comprehensive monitoring of Java Web Start and applet execution to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify emerging attack patterns targeting this class of vulnerabilities.