CVE-2023-21937 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Networking). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 8u361, 8u361-perf, 11.0.18, 17.0.6, 20; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.9, 21.3.5 and 22.3.1. 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 • 02/19/2025
This vulnerability resides within the networking component of Oracle Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition, representing a significant security concern for environments that execute untrusted code within sandboxed environments. The flaw affects multiple version lines including Java SE 8u361, 8u361-perf, 11.0.18, 17.0.6, and 20, alongside GraalVM Enterprise Edition versions 20.3.9, 21.3.5, and 22.3.1. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires specific conditions for successful exploitation, the potential impact remains substantial. According to the CVSS 3.1 scoring system, this vulnerability carries a base score of 3.7 with a vector indicating network accessibility, high attack complexity, no privilege requirements, and no user interaction needed. The integrity impact level of medium severity suggests that attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to modify data within the affected systems, though the scope of impact is limited to specific data access rather than complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from weaknesses in how the Java networking component handles certain network protocols and data processing within sandboxed environments. This flaw particularly affects deployments where Java Web Start applications or applets operate in sandboxed mode, loading code from untrusted sources such as the internet. The vulnerability's applicability extends beyond traditional client-side applications to include web services that utilize APIs within the affected component. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these environments typically rely on the Java sandbox security model to prevent malicious code execution, yet this vulnerability can bypass such protections. The networking component's handling of multiple protocols creates multiple potential attack vectors, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where diverse network communications are processed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, potentially allowing attackers to modify or delete sensitive information within affected systems. While the CVSS score indicates no direct availability impact or significant confidentiality breach, the ability to perform unauthorized updates, inserts, or deletions represents a substantial risk for organizations relying on Java-based applications for critical business processes. The vulnerability's exploitation requires network access but does not necessitate authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is common. Organizations running Java applications in sandboxed environments, particularly those that process data from external sources, face increased risk of data manipulation attacks. The vulnerability's presence in both standard Java SE releases and GraalVM Enterprise Edition indicates that the flaw exists across multiple deployment scenarios, requiring comprehensive patching efforts across affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation of CVE-2023-21937. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Java installations to the latest available versions, particularly those running in sandboxed environments that process untrusted code. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though these should not be relied upon as primary protections given the vulnerability's nature. The implementation of network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous network activity related to the affected protocols can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary Java applets and Web Start applications where possible, reducing the attack surface. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) categories, while ATT&CK framework would classify this under T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) considering the networking protocol exploitation aspects. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any additional Java-based applications that may be running in vulnerable configurations, ensuring comprehensive protection across their entire Java ecosystem.