CVE-2024-20921 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2024
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Hotspot). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 8u391, 8u391-perf, 11.0.21, 17.0.9, 21.0.1; Oracle GraalVM for JDK: 17.0.9, 21.0.1; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.12, 21.3.8 and 22.3.4. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition 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 5.9 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
This vulnerability resides within the Hotspot component of Oracle Java SE and its associated GraalVM implementations, representing a critical security weakness that affects multiple Java runtime versions. The flaw manifests in the core Java virtual machine execution engine where it fails to properly validate certain operations during runtime execution, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers without requiring authentication or specific user interaction. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires some technical skill, the potential impact is severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security professionals.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security flaws that involve improper handling of memory operations or execution flow within the Java Virtual Machine's Hotspot engine. Attackers can potentially leverage this weakness through multiple network protocols, making the attack surface particularly broad and concerning for enterprise environments. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as successful exploitation can lead to complete access to all accessible data within the Java runtime environment, representing a significant escalation from typical information disclosure vulnerabilities. The CVSS score of 5.9 reflects the moderate severity of the confidentiality impact while acknowledging the complexity required for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe for organizations running affected Java versions, as it can enable unauthorized access to critical system data without requiring any authentication credentials. This weakness is especially dangerous in environments where Java applications process sensitive information, as attackers could potentially extract confidential data or gain unauthorized access to enterprise resources. The vulnerability affects both standard Java SE implementations and specialized GraalVM deployments, indicating that the flaw exists at a fundamental level within the Java runtime architecture rather than being isolated to specific product variants. Security teams must consider that this vulnerability can be exploited through web services that utilize APIs within the affected component, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing applications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation efforts by upgrading to patched versions of Oracle Java SE, GraalVM for JDK, and Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. The vulnerability's applicability to sandboxed Java applications and Web Start deployments means that even seemingly secure client-side applications may be at risk if they execute untrusted code from external sources. Security measures should include network segmentation to limit access to Java-enabled systems, implementation of application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Java versions and ensure that proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.
This vulnerability demonstrates the persistent challenges in securing complex virtual machine implementations and highlights the importance of continuous security monitoring for runtime environments. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that this weakness can be exploited through multiple protocols, requiring security teams to implement comprehensive network monitoring rather than relying on traditional perimeter-based security controls. The CVSS vector indicates that while the attack requires high complexity (AC:H), the potential impact is significant due to the high confidentiality impact (C:H), making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive data. This aligns with common patterns seen in software supply chain attacks where vulnerabilities in core runtime components can be leveraged to gain access to downstream systems and data.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a sophisticated understanding of Java Virtual Machine internals and the specific Hotspot execution engine behavior, which typically places this attack in the category of advanced persistent threats rather than simple automated attacks. However, the potential for widespread impact means that organizations must treat this vulnerability as a high-priority security concern regardless of their specific threat landscape. The affected versions span multiple major releases, indicating that this is not a transient issue but rather a fundamental flaw that requires immediate attention across the entire Java ecosystem. Security professionals should also consider the broader implications for Java-based applications and services that may be vulnerable to similar attacks through the same underlying runtime engine vulnerabilities.