#103073: Multiple Security Vulnerabilities in Java Web Start Relating to Local File Access

Sun(sm) Alert Notification

Sun Alert ID: 103073
Synopsis: Multiple Security Vulnerabilities in Java Web Start Relating to Local File Access
Category: Security
Product: Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition
BugIDs: 6590813, 6590827, 6590837, 6590850
Avoidance: Patch, Upgrade, Workaround
State: Resolved
Date Released: 03-Oct-2007
Date Closed: 03-Oct-2007
Date Modified:

1. Impact

[1] A vulnerability in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted application to read local files that are accessible to the user running the untrusted application.

[2] Two vulnerabilities in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted application to read and write local files that are accessible to the user running the untrusted application.

[3] Three vulnerabilities in Java Web Start may allow an untrusted application to determine the location of the Java Web Start cache.

Sun acknowledges with thanks, Peter Csepely, for bringing these issues to our attention.

2. Contributing Factors

[1] The first issue listed can occur in Java Web Start in the following releases for the Windows 32-bit platform:

JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 12 and earlier
SDK and JRE 1.4.2_15 and earlier

Note: Java Web Start in JDK and JRE 6 and later is not affected.

[2] The next two issues listed can occur in Java Web Start in the following releases (for Windows, Solaris, and Linux):

JDK and JRE 6 Update 2 and earlier

Note: Java Web Start in releases prior to JDK and JRE 6 are not affected.

[3] The final three issues listed can occur in Java Web Start in the following releases (for Windows, Solaris, and Linux):

JDK and JRE 6 Update 2 and earlier
JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 12 and earlier
SDK and JRE 1.4.2_15 and earlier

Note: SDK and JRE 1.3.1 or earlier are not affected by any of the issues mentioned in this Sun Alert.

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

Click "Tools" in the Menu Bar at the top of the browser
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:

Java(TM) Plug-in 1.5.0_11-b03

This above example indicates that 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.

Solution Summary

Top

4. Relief/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):

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

For Mozilla:

Select "Preferences" under the browser's "Edit" menu
In the "Preferences" window, select "Helper Applications" located under the "Navigator" category
Under "Files types", scroll down and locate "application/x-java-jnlp-file"
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:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/javaws/developersguide/overview.html#jws

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:

JDK and JRE 6:

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

JDK and JRE 5:

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

SDK and 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):

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

5. Resolution

[1] The first issue listed is addressed in the following releases (for Windows 32-bit platform):

JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 13 or later
SDK and JRE 1.4.2_16 or later

[2] The next two issues listed are addressed in the following releases (for Windows, Solaris, and Linux):

JDK and JRE 6 Update 3 or later

[3] The final three issues listed are addressed in the following releases (for Windows, Solaris, and Linux):

JDK and JRE 6 Update 3 or later
JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 13 or later
SDK and JRE 1.4.2_16 or later

JDK and JRE 6 Update 3 is available for download at the following links:

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

http://java.com

JDK 6 Update 3 for Solaris is available in the following patches:

Java SE 6 update 3 (as delivered in patch 125136-04 or later)
Java SE 6 update 3 (as delivered in patch 125137-04 or later (64bit))
Java SE 6_x86 update 3 (as delivered in patch 125138-04 or later)
Java SE 6_x86 update 3 (as delivered in patch 125139-04 or later (64bit))

JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 13 is available for download at the following link:

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index_jdk5.jsp

JDK 5.0 Update 13 for Solaris is available in the following patches:

J2SE 5.0 update 13 (as delivered in patch 118666-14)
J2SE 5.0 update 13 (as delivered in patch 118667-14 (64bit))
J2SE 5.0_x86 update 13 (as delivered in patch 118668-14)
J2SE 5.0_x86 update 13 (as delivered in patch 118669-14 (64bit))

SDK and JRE 1.4.2 for Solaris 8 is available for download at:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html

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:

http://java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_java.xml

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