CVE-2020-14562 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Java SE product of Oracle Java SE (component: ImageIO). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 11.0.7 and 14.0.1. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java SE. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Java SE. 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 3.1 Base Score 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/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 • 11/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14562 represents a critical availability impact issue within Oracle Java SE's ImageIO component, specifically affecting Java SE versions 11.0.7 and 14.0.1. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-400, which encompasses weaknesses related to uncontrolled resource consumption, making it particularly dangerous in environments where resource management is paramount. The flaw resides in how the ImageIO framework handles certain image file formats, creating a potential pathway for attackers to exploit system resources through malformed image data processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when untrusted code executes within sandboxed Java environments such as Java Web Start applications or applets that are loaded from untrusted sources over network protocols. Attackers can craft malicious image files that, when processed by the vulnerable ImageIO component, trigger resource exhaustion or memory consumption patterns that lead to partial denial of service conditions. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 5.3 with a base score that reflects its availability impact, specifically targeting the partial denial of service aspect of system functionality. This vulnerability demonstrates characteristics aligned with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in system resources to cause denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly to client-side deployments where Java applications are expected to run in secure sandboxed environments. Organizations deploying Java-based applications in client environments must consider that users accessing untrusted content could inadvertently trigger this vulnerability, leading to service degradation or partial system unavailability. The vulnerability's applicability is specifically limited to scenarios where untrusted code execution occurs within sandboxed environments, which is why it does not typically affect server deployments running only trusted code. This limitation aligns with the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices that distinguish between trusted and untrusted execution contexts.
Security mitigations for CVE-2020-14562 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Java SE versions to the latest supported releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable Java installations, particularly those running in client environments. Additional protective measures include configuring Java security policies to restrict image file processing capabilities and implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous resource consumption patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping Java runtime environments updated, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign components like image processing can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malformed input data. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting the execution of Java applets or Web Start applications from untrusted sources to minimize the attack surface.