CVE-2020-14579 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded product of Oracle Java SE (component: Libraries). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 7u261 and 8u251; Java SE Embedded: 8u251. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java SE, Java SE Embedded. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Java SE, Java SE Embedded. Note: Applies to client and server deployment of Java. 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 3.1 Base Score 3.7 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2025
This vulnerability resides within the Java SE and Java SE Embedded libraries, specifically affecting versions 7u261 and 8u251 for Java SE, and 8u251 for Java SE Embedded. The flaw represents a partial denial of service condition that can be triggered by unauthenticated network attackers through multiple protocols, making it particularly concerning given Java's widespread deployment across both client and server environments. The vulnerability's accessibility through sandboxed Java Web Start applications and applets, combined with its exploitation potential through direct API data submission, creates multiple attack vectors that significantly expand the threat surface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Java libraries, allowing malformed data to potentially disrupt service availability without requiring authentication or privileged access. The CVSS 3.1 score of 3.7 indicates a low to medium severity classification focused primarily on availability impacts, with the attack complexity rated as high due to the specific conditions required for exploitation. The vulnerability's classification under CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) would likely fall within categories related to input validation failures or resource management issues that could lead to denial of service conditions.
Operational impact assessment reveals that this vulnerability can compromise the availability of Java applications and systems, potentially affecting business continuity and service delivery. The partial denial of service nature means that while complete system failure may not occur, the affected Java applications could experience degraded performance or temporary unavailability, which could be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where Java applications form the backbone of critical business processes. The vulnerability's applicability to both client and server deployments means that organizations must consider their entire Java ecosystem when assessing risk, including web applications, desktop applications, and server-side services.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for affected versions, as Oracle would have released security updates addressing this specific flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack surfaces, particularly for Java applications running in exposed environments. Monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns and implementing application whitelisting for Java execution can provide additional defensive layers. The vulnerability's exploitation through web services and APIs underscores the importance of validating all external inputs and implementing proper API security measures. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary Java applet and Web Start functionality in browsers and applications where these features are not essential to business operations, following the principle of least privilege to minimize potential attack vectors.