CVE-2020-2830 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded product of Oracle Java SE (component: Concurrency). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 7u251, 8u241, 11.0.6 and 14; Java SE Embedded: 8u241. Easily exploitable 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 3.0 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 • 10/13/2024
This vulnerability resides within the concurrency component of Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded platforms, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple version releases including Java SE 7u251, 8u241, 11.0.6, and 14 along with Java SE Embedded 8u241. The flaw operates at a fundamental level of Java's threading and synchronization mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through network-based attacks without requiring authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage standard network protocols to initiate attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Java applications are exposed to untrusted networks. The CVSS 3.0 score of 5.3 with a vector of AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L demonstrates that this vulnerability primarily impacts availability through partial denial of service conditions while maintaining minimal impact on confidentiality and integrity aspects.
The technical nature of this concurrency flaw stems from improper handling of thread synchronization mechanisms within Java's runtime environment, specifically affecting how the platform manages concurrent operations and memory access patterns. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious inputs or network requests that manipulate the underlying thread management systems, potentially causing threads to enter inconsistent states or deadlock conditions. The vulnerability's applicability across both client and server deployments of Java applications means that it can be exploited in diverse environments including web applications, desktop applications, and embedded systems. This broad attack surface is further exacerbated by the fact that exploitation can occur through multiple vectors including sandboxed Java Web Start applications, sandboxed Java applets, and direct API data injection without requiring the traditional sandboxed execution contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests primarily as partial denial of service conditions that can significantly disrupt Java application functionality and system availability. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause threads to hang, deadlock, or consume excessive system resources, leading to degraded performance or complete application unavailability. The partial denial of service characteristic means that while complete system compromise may not occur, the affected Java applications can become non-responsive or exhibit severe performance degradation that impacts business operations. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Java applications are heavily dependent on concurrent processing capabilities, such as enterprise applications, web services, and multi-threaded server applications. Organizations running Java-based systems in production environments face substantial risk from this vulnerability, especially those with limited network segmentation or inadequate monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application from Oracle, as the most effective defense against this specific concurrency flaw. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Java SE and Java SE Embedded installations to the latest supported versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network-level protections including firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though these are secondary to the primary patching approach. The vulnerability's exposure through multiple protocols and execution contexts means that comprehensive network monitoring and access control measures should be implemented to limit potential attack vectors. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Java versions and implement proper patch management procedures to prevent future exposures. Given the CVSS scoring and the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should consider implementing additional runtime protections and monitoring for anomalous thread behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. The attack surface of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under process injection and privilege escalation techniques, though the specific impact is more focused on availability rather than traditional privilege exploitation.