CVE-2007-5239 in JDK
Summary
by MITRE
Java Web Start in Sun 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, and SDK and JRE 1.3.1_20 and earlier does not properly enforce access restrictions for untrusted (1) applications and (2) applets, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to copy or rename arbitrary files when local users perform drag-and-drop operations from the untrusted application or applet window onto certain types of desktop applications.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2019
This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of Sun Java Development Kit and Java Runtime Environment spanning from version 1.3.1 through 6.0, specifically affecting the Java Web Start functionality. The flaw represents a significant security weakness in the sandboxing mechanisms that protect users from malicious code execution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control enforcement when handling untrusted applications and applets, creating a dangerous pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The issue manifests during drag-and-drop operations between untrusted Java content and desktop applications, allowing attackers to manipulate file system operations through seemingly benign user interactions.
The technical implementation flaw lies in the improper validation of file system access permissions when untrusted Java applications attempt to interact with local desktop environments. When users perform drag-and-drop operations from Java Web Start applications or applets into other desktop applications, the system fails to properly enforce security boundaries. This allows attackers to craft malicious applications that can execute file operations such as copying or renaming files on the victim's system. The vulnerability specifically targets the Java security model's handling of local file system access, bypassing the expected security checks that should prevent untrusted code from performing dangerous file operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary file system operations with the privileges of the local user. Attackers can leverage this weakness through user-assisted attacks where victims unknowingly perform drag-and-drop operations between malicious Java content and legitimate desktop applications. The attack vector requires user interaction but can result in significant damage including data theft, system compromise, or privilege escalation. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where users frequently interact with desktop applications and Java content, making it a practical threat in enterprise and personal computing environments.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Java JDK and JRE, disabling Java Web Start functionality where possible, and implementing strict application whitelisting policies. Organizations should also consider network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious Java content and educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted Java applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-255 privilege escalation issues and represents a technique that could be mapped to ATT&CK tactic T1059 for execution and T1070 for file and directory permissions modification. System administrators should monitor for unusual file system activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls or security-aware application frameworks to prevent similar issues in the future.