Oracle Java 7 Security Manager Bypass Vulnerability

Original release date: January 10, 2013

Last revised: --

Systems Affected

     Any system using Oracle Java 7 (1.7, 1.7.0) including

     * Java Platform Standard Edition 7 (Java SE 7)

     * Java SE Development Kit (JDK 7)

     * Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE 7)

     All versions of Java 7 through update 10 are affected.  Web

     browsers using the Java 7 plug-in are at high risk.

Overview

   A vulnerability in the way Java 7 restricts the permissions of Java

   applets could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on a

   vulnerable system.

Description

   A vulnerability in the Java Security Manager allows a Java applet

   to grant itself permission to execute arbitrary code. An attacker

   could use social engineering techniques to entice a user to visit a

   link to a website hosting a malicious Java applet. An attacker

   could also compromise a legitimate web site and upload a malicious

   Java applet (a "drive-by download" attack).

   Any web browser using the Java 7 plug-in is affected. The Java

   Deployment Toolkit plug-in and Java Web Start can also be used as

   attack vectors.

   Reports indicate this vulnerability is being actively exploited,

   and exploit code is publicly available.

   Further technical details are available in Vulnerability Note

   VU#625617.

Impact

   By convincing a user to load a malicious Java applet or Java

   Network Launching Protocol (JNLP) file, an attacker could execute

   arbitrary code on a vulnerable system with the privileges of the

   Java plug-in process.

Solution

   Disable Java in web browsers

   This and previous Java vulnerabilities have been widely targeted by

   attackers, and new Java vulnerabilities are likely to be

   discovered. To defend against this and future Java vulnerabilities,

   disable Java in web browsers.

   Starting with Java 7 Update 10, it is possible to disable Java

   content in web browsers through the Java control panel applet. From

   Setting the Security Level of the Java Client:

   For installations where the highest level of security is required,

   it is possible to entirely prevent any Java apps (signed or

   unsigned) from running in a browser by de-selecting Enable Java

   content in the browser in the Java Control Panel under the Security

   tab.

   If you are unable to update to Java 7 Update 10 please see the

   solution section of Vulnerability Note VU#636312 for instructions

   on how to disable Java on a per browser basis.