CVE-2023-22044 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition, Oracle GraalVM for JDK product of Oracle Java SE (component: Hotspot). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 8u371-perf, 17.0.7, 20.0.1; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 21.3.6, 22.3.2; Oracle GraalVM for JDK: 17.0.7 and 20.0.1. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition, Oracle GraalVM for JDK. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition, Oracle GraalVM for JDK accessible data. Note: This vulnerability can be exploited by using APIs in the specified Component, e.g., through a web service which supplies data to the APIs. This vulnerability also 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. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 3.7 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22044 resides within the Hotspot component of Oracle Java SE and related GraalVM implementations, representing a significant security concern for systems running affected versions. This issue manifests as a difficulty-to-exploit flaw that permits unauthorized access to sensitive data through network-based attacks without requiring authentication. The vulnerability affects multiple Java SE versions including 8u371-perf, 17.0.7, and 20.0.1, alongside specific GraalVM Enterprise Edition releases 21.3.6 and 22.3.2, and GraalVM for JDK versions 17.0.7 and 20.0.1. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 3.7, indicating a low to medium severity classification with specific emphasis on confidentiality impacts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the Hotspot JVM implementation, allowing attackers to potentially read restricted data through APIs that are part of the affected component. The exploitation pathway involves network-based access via multiple protocols, making it particularly concerning for environments where Java applications are exposed to untrusted network traffic. The vulnerability's impact is specifically targeted at unauthorized read access to data accessible through the Java SE and GraalVM implementations, though it does not appear to enable modification or deletion of data. This characteristic aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms in software implementations, and reflects the broader category of privilege escalation and unauthorized data access vulnerabilities that pose significant risks to information confidentiality.
The operational implications of CVE-2023-22044 extend beyond traditional server environments to encompass client-side Java applications that utilize sandboxed execution contexts. This includes Java Web Start applications and applets that load untrusted code from internet sources, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter malicious code through web browsing or application downloads. The vulnerability's applicability to these sandboxed environments is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers application execution through web services and APIs, and demonstrates how vulnerabilities in core runtime components can compromise security boundaries established by sandboxing mechanisms. Organizations utilizing Java-based applications for web services, client deployments, or enterprise applications that rely on these runtime environments face potential data exposure risks that could affect proprietary information, user data, or system configurations accessible through the affected APIs.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-22044 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the latest Oracle security updates, particularly for Java SE versions 8u371-perf, 17.0.7, and 20.0.1, along with the corresponding GraalVM releases. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Java applications to untrusted networks, while monitoring for anomalous API access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider disabling unnecessary Java applet and Web Start functionality in client environments, and implementing additional security measures such as application whitelisting, network intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments of Java-based applications. The vulnerability's low exploitability score suggests that while immediate action is recommended, the risk may be manageable through proper configuration and monitoring rather than requiring emergency response measures, though the potential for data compromise warrants proactive remediation across all affected deployments.