CVE-2023-22091 in GraalVM for JDK
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Vulnerability in the Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Compiler). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle GraalVM for JDK: 17.0.8, 21; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.11, 21.3.7 and 22.3.3. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 4.8 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22091 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle GraalVM implementations that affects both the standard JDK and Enterprise Edition variants. This flaw resides within the compiler component of the GraalVM runtime environment, which is designed to optimize Java applications through ahead-of-time compilation and just-in-time optimization techniques. The affected versions include Oracle GraalVM for JDK 17.0.8 and 21, alongside Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition versions 20.3.11, 21.3.7, and 22.3.3, indicating a broad impact across multiple release streams. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit suggests that while the attack vector is accessible, successful exploitation requires specific conditions that may not be easily achievable in all environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation or improper access control mechanisms within the compiler subsystem of GraalVM. Attackers with unauthenticated network access can potentially leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized operations against the affected systems. The CVSS score of 4.8 reflects the moderate severity of the impact, specifically targeting confidentiality and integrity aspects of the system. The attack vector AV:N indicates network-based exploitation is possible without requiring physical access or prior authentication, while AC:H suggests the attack requires some level of technical sophistication or specific conditions to be met. The vulnerability allows for unauthorized modification of data through update, insert, or delete operations, alongside unauthorized read access to sensitive information within the affected system's data scope.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-22091 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the underlying runtime environment and potentially disrupt normal application operations. Organizations utilizing GraalVM for high-performance Java applications face significant risks, particularly in environments where security is paramount such as financial services, healthcare, or government sectors. The vulnerability's potential to affect both JDK and Enterprise Edition versions creates a broader attack surface, as enterprises may deploy multiple versions across development, testing, and production environments. This weakness could be particularly dangerous when combined with other vulnerabilities or when attackers have additional reconnaissance information about the target infrastructure. The unauthorized data access capabilities could expose sensitive business information, configuration details, or application data that could be used for further attacks or data exfiltration.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from Oracle, which typically address the root cause of the compiler component vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of GraalVM instances to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and potentially CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) patterns, representing weaknesses in how access permissions are enforced within the compiler subsystem. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and data manipulation, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistent access through compromised runtime environments. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should be updated to include specific guidance for handling GraalVM-related security incidents. The affected organizations must also consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their software supply chain security, particularly if they use GraalVM for building or deploying applications that may be subject to additional regulatory compliance requirements.