CVE-2005-1080 in Java JDK
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Java Archive Tool (Jar) utility in J2SE SDK 1.4.2 and 1.5, and OpenJDK, allows remote attackers to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in filenames in a .jar file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1080 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Java Archive Tool utility that affects multiple Java runtime environments including Sun J2SE SDK versions 1.4.2 and 1.5, as well as OpenJDK implementations. This security weakness stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the jar utility's file extraction process, specifically when handling filenames containing directory traversal sequences. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate the extraction behavior of jar files by incorporating .. (dot dot) sequences in archive filenames, which can result in unintended file system operations beyond the intended extraction directory.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the jar utility processes archive files containing filenames with directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\.., allowing attackers to bypass normal file system access controls and potentially create or overwrite files in arbitrary locations on the target system. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The underlying mechanism exploits the lack of proper sanitization of file paths during the decompression process, where the jar utility fails to adequately validate or canonicalize the paths specified within jar archives before writing files to disk.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1080 extends beyond simple file system manipulation to potentially enable more severe security consequences including arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, and system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to overwrite critical system files, inject malicious code into legitimate applications, or establish persistent backdoors within the target environment. The vulnerability affects systems where jar files are processed automatically or where users have the ability to execute jar utilities with elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automated deployment processes might inadvertently execute malicious jar archives. This weakness aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for executing malicious code through Java applications, and specifically relates to the T1078 principle of valid accounts and T1546.001 for permissions, privileges, and access control manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Java runtime environments with the latest security updates from Oracle and OpenJDK maintainers. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies for jar archives, particularly in automated deployment systems, and consider restricting the execution of jar utilities in privileged contexts. Network-level controls such as firewall rules and content filtering can help prevent the delivery of malicious jar files through untrusted channels. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected Java versions and implement proper access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in security-critical applications and highlights the need for robust sanitization of file paths in archive processing utilities to prevent unauthorized file system access.