CVE-2023-22049 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: Libraries). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 8u371, 8u371-perf, 11.0.19, 17.0.7, 20.0.1; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.10, 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 update, insert or delete access to some 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 (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 Java SE libraries component of Oracle's Java platform ecosystem, affecting multiple critical runtime environments including standard Java SE, GraalVM Enterprise Edition, and GraalVM for JDK. The flaw manifests as a weakness in how the affected systems handle data processing through specific application programming interfaces, creating an avenue for unauthorized data manipulation. The vulnerability impacts versions spanning Java 8 through Java 20, with particular attention to the 8u371, 11.0.19, 17.0.7, and 20.0.1 releases, as well as corresponding GraalVM versions that share the same underlying library architecture. The affected libraries operate within the core Java runtime environment, processing data through web services and application interfaces that may be exposed to untrusted inputs from network sources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation or sanitization of data inputs processed through the affected APIs, allowing attackers to manipulate data integrity through carefully crafted requests. The CVSS score of 3.7 indicates a low to moderate severity level, specifically targeting integrity impacts with no direct availability or confidentiality breaches. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending malicious data through web service endpoints or application interfaces that utilize the vulnerable libraries, without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. The vulnerability's difficulty level is classified as hard to exploit, suggesting that while it requires some technical knowledge to leverage, the attack surface is accessible through common network protocols and standard application interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise the integrity of sensitive information systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against data accessible through the affected Java applications, particularly those running in sandboxed environments. This includes Java Web Start applications and applets that load untrusted code from internet sources, where the Java sandbox protection mechanisms may be bypassed through this specific weakness. The vulnerability affects systems deployed in enterprise environments where Java applications process data from external sources, making it particularly concerning for organizations with extensive Java-based infrastructure. Organizations running applications that rely on the affected Java libraries, including those using GraalVM for high-performance computing scenarios, face potential data integrity risks that could impact business operations and regulatory compliance.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Java versions, implementing network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable applications, and strengthening input validation controls within applications that utilize the affected APIs. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous data manipulation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application layer execution through web services. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary web service endpoints, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of Java applications to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in custom code implementations.