CVE-2023-21968 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: Libraries). 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 Oracle Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition libraries, specifically targeting the Java Runtime Environment's security mechanisms. The flaw affects multiple Java versions including 8u361, 11.0.18, 17.0.6, and 20 for Java SE, along with GraalVM versions 20.3.9, 21.3.5, and 22.3.1. The vulnerability operates at the library level and represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers with network access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Java applications process untrusted data from external sources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Java libraries that handle data processing and security boundaries. Attackers can exploit this weakness through multiple network protocols to gain unauthorized access to modify data within the affected systems. The CVSS score of 3.7 indicates a moderate severity level with integrity impacts, specifically allowing unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against accessible data. This vulnerability particularly targets Java deployments that utilize sandboxed environments such as Java Web Start applications or applets, which rely on the Java sandbox security model for protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns as it affects systems where untrusted code execution is permitted. The attack surface includes web services that provide data to Java APIs, creating potential vectors for exploitation through data injection attacks. The vulnerability's difficulty level suggests that while it requires some technical knowledge to exploit, it is not overly complex and can be leveraged by attackers with basic networking skills. This makes it particularly concerning for organizations running Java applications in production environments where security boundaries may be compromised.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including patching affected Java installations to the latest supported versions, disabling unnecessary Java runtime components, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems. The vulnerability's applicability to sandboxed environments means that web applications serving Java applets or Web Start applications require particular attention. Security controls should focus on monitoring for unauthorized data modification attempts and implementing additional layers of validation for data processed through Java APIs. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and represents a significant risk under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and data manipulation tactics, particularly in environments where Java applications process external data inputs.