CVE-2018-2790 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded component of Oracle Java SE (subcomponent: Security). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 6u181, 7u171, 8u162 and 10; Java SE Embedded: 8u161. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java SE, Java SE Embedded. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Java SE, Java SE Embedded 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 3.1 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-2790 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded platforms that affects multiple version lines including Java 6u181, 7u171, 8u162, 10, and Java SE Embedded 8u161. This vulnerability resides within the Security subcomponent of Java SE and operates as a difficult-to-exploit issue that requires an unauthenticated network attacker capable of accessing the target system through multiple protocols. The nature of this vulnerability makes it particularly concerning for environments where Java applications are deployed in sandboxed environments, specifically those running Java Web Start applications or applets that execute untrusted code from internet sources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires human interaction from users other than the attacker, indicating that social engineering or user deception plays a critical role in successful exploitation. This characteristic aligns with common attack patterns found in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and execution phases where user interaction is necessary for privilege escalation or system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is categorized as integrity-focused with a CVSS 3.0 base score of 3.1, indicating that successful exploitation could result in unauthorized modification of data accessible to the Java SE and Java SE Embedded components. The attack vector requires network access with high complexity, suggesting that attackers need to overcome certain security measures or have specific conditions to achieve successful exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2790 extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, as it could enable attackers to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on Java SE and Java SE Embedded accessible data. This vulnerability specifically targets deployments that rely on Java sandboxing for security isolation, particularly affecting client-side applications rather than server-side implementations that typically run trusted code. The vulnerability's scope is particularly relevant for environments where applications load and execute untrusted code from external sources, making web-based Java applications and applets particularly susceptible to this type of attack. The security implications are further compounded by the fact that this vulnerability does not affect server deployments that run only trusted code, indicating that the risk is primarily concentrated in client-side sandboxed environments.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patching of affected Java versions, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable systems, and enhanced user education to prevent social engineering attacks that could exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to security bypass and integrity violations aligns with established patterns of sandbox escape vulnerabilities. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing application whitelisting policies, network monitoring for suspicious protocol usage, and regular security assessments of Java-based applications to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the broader software ecosystem. The ATT&CK framework's approach to identifying such vulnerabilities emphasizes the importance of understanding both the technical implementation flaws and the human factors that enable exploitation.