Multiple Security Vulnerabilities in Java Web Start may allow Privileges to be Elevated

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Multiple Security Vulnerabilities in Java Web Start may allow Privileges to be Elevated

1. Impact

CR 6557220: Buffer overflow vulnerabilities in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted Java Web Start application 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.

CR 6703909: A vulnerability in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted Java Web Start application downloaded from a website to create arbitrary files with the permissions of the user running the untrusted Java Web Start application.

CR 6704077: A vulnerability in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted Java Web Start application downloaded from a website to create or delete arbitrary files with the permissions of the user running the untrusted Java Web Start application.

CR 6704074: A vulnerability in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted Java Web Start application to determine the location of the Java Web Start cache.

Sun acknowledges with thanks, the following:

Buffer overflow vulnerabilities:


File creation, deletion, and cache disclosure vulnerabilities:


2. Contributing Factors

The first issue (CR 6557220) can occur in Java Web Start in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 3 and earlier
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 15 and earlier
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_17 and earlier

The second issue (CR 6703909) can occur in Java Web Start in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 6 and earlier
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 15 and earlier
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_17 and earlier

The third issue (CR 6704077) can occur in Java Web Start in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 15 and earlier
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_17 and earlier

The fourth issue (CR 6704074) can occur in Java Web Start in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 6 and earlier
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 15 and earlier
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_17 and earlier

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"
3. 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, as in the following example:


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

3. Symptoms

There are no predictable symptoms that would indicate the described issues have been 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 "JNLP - JNLP File"
5. 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:

Windows:

JRE 6:  C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\javaws.exe

JRE 5.0:  C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_13\bin\javaws.exe

JRE 1.4.2:  C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_16\javaws\javaws.exe

Solaris (if installed using pkg):

/usr/bin/javaws

Linux (if installed using rpm):

JRE 6:  /usr/java/jre1.6.0/bin/javaws

JRE 5.0:  /usr/java/jre1.5.0/bin/javaws

JRE 1.4.2:  /usr/java/j2re1.4.2/bin/javaws

5. Resolution

The first issue (CR 6557220) is addressed in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 4 or later
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 16 or later
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_18 or later

The second issue (CR 6703909) is addressed in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 7 or later
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 16 or later
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_18 or later

The third issue (CR 6704077) is addressed in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 16 or later
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_18 or later

The fourth issue (CR 6704074) is addressed in the following releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 7 or later
• JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 16 or later
• SDK and JRE 1.4.2_18 or later

Note: Sun announced in September 2007 that we will be synchronizing the release of fixes for security vulnerabilities starting in 2008. The first issue was addressed in 6 Update 4 prior to the announcement.

JDK and JRE 6 Update 7 is available for download at the following links:



JRE 6 Updates are available through the Java Update tool for Microsoft Windows users.

JDK 6 Update 7 for Solaris is available in the following patches:

• Java SE 6 Update 7 (as delivered in patch 125136-09 or later)
• Java SE 6 Update 7 (as delivered in patch 125137-09 or later (64bit))
• Java SE 6_x86 Update 7 (as delivered in patch 125138-09 or later)
• Java SE 6_x86 Update 7 (as delivered in patch 125139-09 or later (64bit))

JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 16 is available for download at the following links:


JDK 5.0 Update 16 for Solaris will be available in the following patches:

J2SE 5.0 Update 16 (as delivered in patch 118666-17)
J2SE 5.0 Update 16 (as delivered in patch 118667-17 (64bit))
J2SE 5.0_x86 Update 16 (as delivered in patch 118668-17)
J2SE 5.0_x86 Update 16 (as delivered in patch 118669-17 (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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