Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Java Web Start May Allow an Untrusted Application to Elevate its Privileges

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Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Java Web Start May Allow an Untrusted application to Elevate its Privileges

1. Impact

A buffer overflow vulnerability in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted Java Web Start application that is downloaded from a website to elevate its privileges. For example, an untrusted Java Web Start application may grant itself permissions to read and write local files or execute local applications that are accessible to the user running the untrusted application.

Sun acknowledges with thanks, CERT/CC for bringing this issue to our attention.

2. Contributing Factors

This issue can occur in the following releases (for Windows, Solaris, and Linux):

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 4 and earlier
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 14 and earlier
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_16 and earlier

Note: SDK and JRE 1.3.x are not affected by this issue.

To determine the default version of the JRE that Internet Explorer uses:

1. Click "Tools" in the Menu Bar at the top of the browser
2. Select "Sun Java Console"

The first two lines in the console displays the version of Java Plug-in and JRE that Internet Explorer uses

To determine the default version of the JRE that Mozilla or Firefox browsers use, visit the URL "about:plugins". The browser will display a page called "Installed plug-ins" which lists the version of the Java Plug-in such as the following:


The above indicates the version of the JRE the browser uses is 1.5.0_11.

3. Symptoms

There are no predictable symptoms that would indicate the above issue is being exploited.

4. Workaround

To reduce the likelihood of executing untrusted applications which may allow these issues to be exploited, Java Web Start applications may be disabled temporarily (until the updates or patches have been installed) as follows:

For Internet Explorer (Windows):

1. Right click on the "Start" button and select "Explore"
2. In the "Start Menu" window, select "Tools" => "Folder Options"
3. From the "Folder Options" window, select the "File Types" tab
4. From the "Registered File Types" window, scroll down and locate the
5. "JNLP - JNLP File"
6. Select the "JNLP - JNLP File" and click the "Delete" button

For Mozilla:

1. Select "Preferences" under the browser's "Edit" menu
2. In the "Preferences" window, select "Helper Applications" located under the "Navigator" category
3. Under "File types", scroll down and locate "application/x-java-jnlp-file"
4. Select "application/x-java-jnlp-file" and click the "Remove" button

Note 1: On Microsoft Windows, applications may also be launched from the desktop icon or Start Menu if a shortcut was previously created for an application. Unknown applications should not be launched through the desktop icon or the Start Menu. Shortcuts can be removed by using the Java Web Start Application Manager through the "Application Remove Shortcut" menu item. For more information, see:


Note 2: It is also possible to launch applications through the command line in Windows, Solaris, and Linux. Unknown applications should not be launched through the command line. Sites may consider renaming the Java Web Start launcher ("javaws.exe" for Windows and "javaws" for Solaris and Linux) to prevent Java Web Start from launching.

The launcher can be found at:

For Windows:

JDK and JRE 6:


JDK and JRE 5:


SDK and JRE 1.4.2:


For Solaris (if installed using pkg):


For Linux (if installed using rpm):

5. Resolution

This issue is addressed in the following releases (for Windows, Solaris, and Linux):

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 5 or later
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 15 or later
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_17 or later

JDK and JRE 6 Update 5 is available for download at the following links:


JRE 6 update 5 is available through the Java Update Tool for Microsoft Windows users.

JDK 6 Update 5 for Solaris is available in the following patches:

• Java SE 6: update 5 (as delivered in patch 125136-07 or later)
• Java SE 6: update 5 (as delivered in patch 125137-07 or later (64bit))
• Java SE 6_x86: update 5 (as delivered in patch 125138-07 or later)
• Java SE 6_x86: update 5 (as delivered in patch 125139-07 or later (64bit))

JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 15 is available for download at the following link:


JDK 5.0 Update 15 for Solaris is available in the following patches:

• J2SE 5.0: update 15 (as delivered in patch 118666-16 or later)
• J2SE 5.0: update 15 (as delivered in patch 118667-16 or later (64bit))
• J2SE 5.0_x86: update 15 (as delivered in patch 118668-16 or later)
• J2SE 5.0_x86: update 15 (as delivered in patch 118669-16 or later (64bit))

SDK and JRE 1.4.2 is available for download at:


Note: When installing a new version of the product from a source other than a Solaris patch, it is recommended that the old affected versions be removed from your system. To remove old affected versions on the Windows platform, please see:


For more information on Security Sun Alerts, see Technical Instruction ID 213557.

This Sun Alert notification is being provided to you on an "AS IS" basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE OUT OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. This Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of your agreement to purchase services from Sun, or, if you do not have such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these agreements.

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