CVE-2022-21248 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Serialization). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 7u321, 8u311, 11.0.13, 17.01; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.4 and 21.3.0. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition 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 can also be exploited by using APIs in the specified Component, e.g., through a web service which supplies data to the APIs. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 3.7 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21248 represents a critical serialization flaw within Oracle Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition platforms that has significant implications for system security. This vulnerability specifically targets the serialization component of these Java implementations, which serves as a fundamental mechanism for converting object states into byte streams and vice versa. The affected versions include Java SE 7u321, 8u311, 11.0.13, and 17.01, along with GraalVM Enterprise Edition 20.3.4 and 21.3.0, indicating a widespread impact across multiple Java runtime environments. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit suggests that while it requires specific conditions for successful exploitation, the potential impact remains severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security professionals.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of serialized objects within the Java serialization framework, which allows attackers to craft malicious data streams that can bypass the security boundaries typically enforced by the Java sandbox. This flaw particularly affects deployments where untrusted code is executed within sandboxed environments such as Java Web Start applications or applets, creating a dangerous attack surface when these applications load data from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 3.7 reflects its integrity impact potential, indicating that successful exploitation could enable unauthorized modification of data accessible to the affected Java applications. The attack vector requires network access and can be executed through multiple protocols, making it particularly concerning for environments where network-based attacks are common.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-21248 extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to potentially compromise the entire security posture of systems running affected Java versions. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to modify, insert, or delete data within the scope of applications that rely on the vulnerable Java runtime. This risk is particularly pronounced in environments where Java applications process sensitive data or where the applications themselves serve as critical components in larger security architectures. The vulnerability's applicability to both Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition demonstrates the broad scope of potential impact, as GraalVM is increasingly used in enterprise environments for high-performance applications and microservices. The fact that this vulnerability can be exploited through web services that supply data to APIs further compounds the risk, as it can potentially be leveraged in automated attack scenarios.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of Oracle Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition, as well as implementing network-level controls to restrict access to affected applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" as a common weakness that leads to various security issues including remote code execution and data manipulation. Security teams should also consider implementing application firewalls and monitoring for unusual serialization patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their Java application deployment practices to ensure that sandboxed environments are properly configured and that untrusted code is not being executed without proper security controls in place. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell' and T1190 for 'Exploit Public-Facing Application', highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape this vulnerability creates for enterprise security operations.