CVE-2021-35556 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Oracle Java SE and the Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition, specifically within the Swing component. The vulnerability is classified with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3, indicating that it poses a moderate risk due to its potential impact on availability. It allows unauthenticated attackers with network access to exploit the vulnerability via multiple protocols, leading to a partial denial of service (DoS).
This vulnerability primarily affects Java deployments in client environments where untrusted code is executed through Java Web Start applications or sandboxed applets. These environments rely on the Java sandbox for security. It is important to note that the vulnerability does not apply to server environments that run only trusted code.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Java SE, including Java SE 7u311, 8u301, 11.0.12, and 17, or Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition versions 20.3.3 and 21.2.0, should take immediate action in their patch management processes. The urgency of patching is underscored by the ease of exploitation and the potential for service disruption.
Risk to organizations includes partial denial of service that could impact application availability. Given the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, there are no confirmed public exploits or known exploitation in the wild for this vulnerability. Nevertheless, the characteristics of the vulnerability warrant attention from security teams to prevent potential future exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2021-35556 vulnerability is specifically related to the Java SE and the Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. The affected Java SE versions include: 7u311, 8u301, 11.0.12, and 17; while the Oracle GraalVM versions are 20.3.3 and 21.2.0. The official CVSS score is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level primarily due to its impact on availability.
The vulnerability is characterized as easily exploitable, enabling unauthorized access to execute code that may lead to a partial denial of service. This issue is particularly critical for client-side Java applications that execute untrusted code.
The vulnerability's CVSS vector is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L), which indicates that the attack vector is network-based, with low complexity and no privileges required for exploitation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-35556 lies in the failure of the Java sandbox to properly restrict the execution of untrusted code. Attackers may leverage this weakness by sending specially crafted requests to Java applications that utilize the vulnerable versions.
The attack vector is primarily network-based, with no user interaction needed for exploitation. The complexity of the attack is rated low, meaning that attackers do not need advanced skills to exploit the vulnerability.
In terms of impact, the vulnerability affects availability, as it can lead to a partial denial of service. There are no impacts on confidentiality or integrity as per the CVSS scoring.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations deploying the affected Java SE and GraalVM products should assess the potential impact of CVE-2021-35556 on their operations. Given that this vulnerability allows unauthenticated access, the risk of unauthorized service disruption is significant.
The blast radius of successful exploitation could encompass multiple systems utilizing vulnerable Java deployments, particularly in client environments. Organizations should consider the urgency of remediation, as the partial denial of service could have cascading effects on application performance and availability.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in priority patch cycles given its CVSS score and the potential for exploitation. Additionally, the presence of untrusted code in Java environments emphasizes the need for robust security practices.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Oracle Java SE and GraalVM are affected by this vulnerability: Java SE: 7u311, 8u301, 11.0.12, 17; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.3 and 21.2.0.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations are advised to apply the latest patches provided by Oracle for the affected versions of Java SE and GraalVM. For detailed patch information, refer to the Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory. Additionally, organizations should implement strict controls over the execution of untrusted code in their Java environments.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual application behavior, specifically in Java applications that load untrusted code. Behavioral anomalies, such as unexpected crashes or performance issues, should be investigated thoroughly.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2021-35556 highlights the ongoing challenges in managing vulnerabilities within widely used software components like Java. Organizations must remain vigilant in their patch management practices and ensure that untrusted code is not executed in environments that could lead to security breaches.
The absence of known exploits should not lead to complacency; security teams should continuously assess their environments and implement proactive measures. Additionally, organizations can enhance their security posture by adopting comprehensive security testing practices, such as penetration testing to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, staying informed about vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-35556 is essential for maintaining the security of Java environments. Organizations should regularly review their security policies and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to mitigate risks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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