CVE-2024-20952 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 01/17/2024
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Security). 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 creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition accessible data as well as 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 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 does not apply to Java deployments, typically in servers, that load and run only trusted code (e.g., code installed by an administrator). CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE and related GraalVM implementations that affects multiple version streams including Java 8, 11, 17, and 21 along with their corresponding GraalVM variants. The vulnerability operates within the security component of these platforms and demonstrates a significant risk to systems that execute untrusted code through sandboxed environments. According to the CVSS 3.1 scoring system, this vulnerability carries a base score of 7.4 which indicates high severity with confidentiality and integrity impacts. The attack vector requires network access and can be exploited without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted code execution is permitted.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from weaknesses in the Java sandboxing mechanisms that are designed to isolate untrusted code execution from critical system resources. When applications load and execute code from untrusted sources such as web applets or Java Web Start applications, the security boundaries that should protect against unauthorized data manipulation are compromised. This flaw allows attackers to bypass the expected sandbox protections and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability specifically targets deployments where the Java runtime environment operates in client-side scenarios rather than server-side trusted environments, which aligns with common attack patterns identified in the cybersecurity community.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized modification, deletion, or creation of critical data within affected systems. The potential for complete access to all accessible data represents a severe risk to organizations relying on these Java implementations for client-side applications. The vulnerability's applicability to both standard Java SE and GraalVM variants means that organizations must consider their entire Java ecosystem when assessing risk. The difficulty level of exploitation is rated as hard, suggesting that while it requires some technical expertise, the attack surface remains substantial enough to warrant immediate attention from security teams.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a potential entry point for data exfiltration and integrity compromise attacks. The CVSS vector indicates that network-based attacks can occur with high complexity and no privilege requirements, which suggests that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from remote locations without requiring elevated system permissions. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing additional monitoring for suspicious network activity. The vulnerability's impact on both standard Java deployments and GraalVM implementations creates a broad attack surface that requires comprehensive security assessments. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patch deployment, network segmentation to limit exposure, and enhanced monitoring of Java-based applications that execute untrusted code.
The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and data manipulation. Security teams should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, network-based intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments of Java-based applications. Organizations using Java Web Start applications or sandboxed applets should particularly focus their remediation efforts on these specific deployment scenarios. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to sandbox bypass and access control mechanisms indicates that it represents a fundamental flaw in the security architecture of these Java implementations. Regular security updates and proper application security practices remain essential defensive measures against such vulnerabilities.