CVE-2017-10295 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded, JRockit component of Oracle Java SE (subcomponent: Networking). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 6u161, 7u151, 8u144 and 9; Java SE Embedded: 8u144; JRockit: R28.3.15. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Java SE, Java SE Embedded, JRockit. While the vulnerability is in Java SE, Java SE Embedded, JRockit, 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, Java SE Embedded, JRockit accessible data. Note: This vulnerability can be exploited through sandboxed Java Web Start applications and sandboxed Java applets. It can also be exploited by supplying data to APIs in the specified Component without using sandboxed Java Web Start applications or sandboxed Java applets, such as through a web service. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.0 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2021
This vulnerability resides within the networking component of Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded platforms, specifically affecting versions 6u161, 7u151, 8u144, and 9 for standard Java SE, along with 8u144 for Java SE Embedded and JRockit R28.3.15. The flaw manifests as a weakness in the HTTP handling mechanisms that allows remote attackers to exploit network-based attacks without requiring authentication. The vulnerability is classified as difficult to exploit, yet represents a significant security risk due to its potential to enable unauthorized data manipulation within the affected Java runtime environments. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this as a 4.0 base score with integrity impacts, indicating that while the attack vector is complex, successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized modification of data within the Java runtime environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of HTTP requests within the Java networking stack, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious data or commands that can manipulate the underlying data structures. This weakness allows attackers to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against data accessible through the Java runtime environment, which can compromise the integrity of applications running within these platforms. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur through multiple attack vectors including sandboxed Java Web Start applications and applets, but also through direct API interactions without requiring the sandboxed environment. This broad attack surface increases the potential impact as attackers can leverage various methods to reach the vulnerable code paths, including web services that interact with the affected networking component.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate Java platforms, as successful exploitation can compromise not only the targeted Java applications but also potentially affect other products that rely on or interact with these Java components. The vulnerability's classification under CVSS vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N indicates that network-based attacks can be executed with high complexity but without requiring user interaction or privilege escalation, while the scope change (S:C) suggests that the impact can extend beyond the immediate target. This characteristic means that a successful attack could potentially affect additional systems or applications that communicate with or depend on the vulnerable Java components. The vulnerability's presence in both standard Java SE and JRockit platforms indicates that organizations using either environment are at risk, particularly those running older versions that have reached their support lifecycle.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to supported Java versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, as the affected versions are no longer receiving security updates from Oracle. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to Java applications where possible, particularly those exposed to untrusted networks. Application-level controls should be implemented to validate and sanitize all HTTP input to prevent exploitation attempts, and monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual data modification patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing measures for Java applications that process untrusted input, as the vulnerability can be exploited through sandboxed environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) when exploited, particularly through the manipulation of Java networking components to execute unauthorized data operations. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that the Java runtime environments are properly secured against similar classes of vulnerabilities.