CVE-2025-1470 in OMR
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2025
In Eclipse OMR, from the initial contribution to version 0.4.0, some OMR internal port library and utilities consumers of z/OS atoe functions do not check their return values for NULL memory pointers or for memory allocation failures. This can lead to NULL pointer dereference crashes. Beginning in version 0.5.0, internal OMR consumers of atoe functions handle NULL return values and memory allocation failures correctly.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1470 affects Eclipse OMR, a foundational component of the Eclipse OpenJ9 JVM implementation that provides core runtime services and portability layers for Java applications. This issue specifically targets the z/OS operating system platform where Eclipse OMR is deployed, creating a critical security flaw that has persisted since the initial release of version 0.4.0. The vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the internal port library and utility functions that interact with z/OS atoe (address translation and execution) functions, which are essential for memory management and system-level operations on IBM's mainframe platform.
The technical flaw manifests when internal consumers of z/OS atoe functions fail to validate return values for memory allocation failures or NULL pointer conditions. This oversight creates a condition where the system attempts to dereference NULL memory pointers, leading to immediate application crashes and potential system instability. The root cause aligns with CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of inadequate input validation and error handling in system-level code. The vulnerability affects the portability layer of Eclipse OMR, which serves as an abstraction layer between the Java runtime and underlying operating system functionalities, making it a critical component for system stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially compromise the entire runtime environment on z/OS systems. When applications utilizing Eclipse OMR encounter memory allocation failures and do not properly handle the NULL return values, they become susceptible to abrupt termination, data loss, and service disruption in mission-critical mainframe environments. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise settings where z/OS systems handle large-scale business operations, as it could lead to cascading failures across interconnected applications. The issue affects the fundamental memory management capabilities of the JVM implementation, potentially impacting any application that relies on Eclipse OMR's portability functions for z/OS platforms.
The remediation for CVE-2025-1470 was implemented in version 0.5.0 of Eclipse OMR, where the internal consumers of atoe functions were updated to properly handle NULL return values and memory allocation failures. This fix addresses the vulnerability by implementing proper error checking mechanisms that prevent the system from attempting to dereference NULL pointers and ensures graceful handling of memory allocation failures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to version 0.5.0 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, as the fix aligns with best practices for defensive programming and proper error handling in system-level components. The implementation of proper error handling in this context also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1490, which involves data destruction through system resource exhaustion or memory corruption, and demonstrates the importance of robust error handling in preventing system instability and potential exploitation scenarios.