CVE-2017-10342 in Java Advanced Management Console
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Java Advanced Management Console component of Oracle Java SE (subcomponent: Server). The supported version that is affected is Java Advanced Management Console: 2.7. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java Advanced Management Console. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Java Advanced Management Console. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10342 resides within Oracle Java SE's Java Advanced Management Console component, specifically affecting version 2.7. This critical weakness manifests as an easily exploitable security flaw that enables unauthenticated attackers to compromise the management console without requiring any prior authentication credentials. The vulnerability operates through multiple network protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged across various attack vectors. The affected system component represents a server-side management interface that typically handles administrative operations and configuration management for java applications, creating a significant risk when accessible to unauthorized parties. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 5.3, indicating a medium severity level, with the primary impact categorized as availability disruption rather than confidentiality or integrity compromise. The attack vector assessment shows network accessibility with low attack complexity and no privilege requirements, making it highly accessible to potential threat actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Java Advanced Management Console server component. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted network requests to the management console interface without requiring any valid credentials or authentication tokens. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized access to administrative functions that should be protected by proper authentication controls, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate the console's operational state. The vulnerability's design flaw lies in the console's failure to properly validate incoming requests, allowing unauthenticated network connections to access sensitive management interfaces. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the security architecture where the system's access control mechanisms are bypassed, creating an unauthorized entry point into the management console environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it can lead to partial denial of service conditions, effectively disrupting legitimate administrative operations and potentially causing system instability.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability present significant risks to organizations utilizing Oracle Java SE 2.7 environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can cause partial denial of service conditions that impact the availability of the management console itself, potentially preventing legitimate administrators from performing necessary maintenance or configuration tasks. The unauthorized access capability could enable attackers to disrupt normal system operations, manipulate management settings, or potentially escalate privileges within the affected environment. Organizations running vulnerable Java Advanced Management Console implementations face risks of operational disruption, system instability, and potential compromise of the broader java application ecosystem. The partial denial of service impact means that while complete system shutdown may not occur, the management capabilities become compromised, affecting the ability to properly maintain and monitor the java applications. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where the management console is exposed to untrusted networks or where network segmentation is inadequate, creating additional attack surface exposure.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-10342 primarily focus on immediate patching and configuration hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant Oracle security patches released to address this vulnerability, as these updates contain the necessary code modifications to restore proper authentication controls within the management console. Network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to the management console interface, ensuring that only authorized administrative systems can reach the vulnerable component. The principle of least privilege should be applied by configuring the console to only accept connections from trusted network segments and implementing strong access controls. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling the management console functionality when not actively required, or implementing additional authentication layers such as VPN access or multi-factor authentication. Monitoring and logging of management console access attempts should be enabled to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a specific instance of the broader category of authentication bypass flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving initial access through network service exploitation and privilege escalation through unauthorized administrative access to system management interfaces.