CVE-2024-21085 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 04/17/2024
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Concurrency). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 8u401, 8u401-perf, 11.0.22; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.13 and 21.3.9. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. 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 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2025
This vulnerability resides within the concurrency component of Oracle Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition, representing a significant security concern for systems relying on these platforms. The flaw affects specific version ranges including Java SE 8u401, 8u401-perf, 11.0.22, and GraalVM Enterprise Edition 20.3.13 and 21.3.9, making it particularly concerning for organizations maintaining legacy systems or those implementing newer enterprise deployments. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires specific conditions for successful exploitation, the potential impact remains severe enough to warrant immediate attention.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling within the concurrency framework, specifically affecting how the Java runtime manages concurrent operations and thread interactions. Attackers can leverage this weakness through multiple network protocols without requiring authentication, exploiting the underlying concurrency mechanisms to manipulate system behavior. The vulnerability's applicability extends beyond traditional server deployments to include client-side applications running sandboxed Java Web Start applications or applets, which creates a broader attack surface where untrusted code execution can occur within the Java sandbox environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests primarily as a partial denial of service condition, where successful exploitation can disrupt normal system operations and compromise availability. This partial DOS capability means that while complete system failure may not occur, the affected Java applications or runtime environments could experience degraded performance or restricted functionality. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 3.7 reflects the relatively low complexity required for exploitation but also indicates the limited impact on confidentiality and integrity, with availability being the primary concern. Organizations running Java applications in production environments must consider the implications of this vulnerability, particularly those with systems that handle high-volume concurrent operations or those deployed in environments where availability is critical.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version updates to patched releases of Oracle Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition, as these updates typically contain fixes for known concurrency issues. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, particularly for systems that must continue operating with vulnerable versions during the upgrade process. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of application compatibility after applying patches, as concurrency-related changes can sometimes introduce unexpected behavioral modifications. The vulnerability's relationship to CWE categories involving concurrency and memory management, as well as its potential mapping to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and denial of service, underscores the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the ongoing challenges in securing complex concurrency frameworks within enterprise Java environments. Systems that rely heavily on multi-threaded operations, particularly those involving distributed processing or high-frequency data handling, face increased risk from such flaws. Security teams should consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual thread behavior or resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as traditional network-based detection methods may not be sufficient for identifying these subtle concurrency-based attacks.