CVE-2008-3109 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in scripting language support in Sun Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in JDK and JRE 6 Update 6 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to gain privileges via an untrusted (1) application or (2) applet, as demonstrated by an application or applet that grants itself privileges to (a) read local files, (b) write to local files, or (c) execute local programs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3109 represents a critical security flaw within the Sun Java Runtime Environment that affects JDK and JRE versions 6 Update 6 and earlier. This issue resides within the scripting language support components of the Java platform, creating a privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by context-dependent attackers. The vulnerability specifically targets the security boundaries that separate trusted and untrusted code execution environments, allowing malicious actors to bypass Java's security model and gain elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sandboxing mechanisms within the JRE's scripting engine implementation. Attackers can craft specially designed applications or applets that exploit weaknesses in the privilege management system to escalate their access rights. The flaw enables attackers to perform three critical malicious activities: reading local files, writing to local files, and executing local programs. This represents a comprehensive compromise of the local system's security posture, as it provides attackers with complete file system access and execution capabilities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for any system running affected Java versions. The context-dependent nature of the attack means that exploitation requires the user to interact with a malicious application or applet, typically through web-based delivery mechanisms. Once exploited, attackers can access sensitive local data, modify system files, and potentially establish persistent access through execution of malicious code. The vulnerability directly violates Java's security model principles and undermines the fundamental isolation guarantees that the platform provides between different code execution contexts.
The security implications extend beyond immediate privilege escalation to encompass broader system compromise potential. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-250: "Execute Code with Unusual/Unanticipated Privileges" and CWE-264: "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls." The attack vectors align with ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for Scripting and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. Organizations running affected Java versions face substantial risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within network environments where Java applications are prevalent.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the latest Java updates from Oracle. System administrators should implement strict Java security policies, disable unnecessary scripting capabilities, and deploy application whitelisting solutions. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious Java-related activities can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of executing untrusted Java content remains crucial in preventing successful exploitation through social engineering vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness programs to reduce the risk of users inadvertently executing malicious Java applications or applets.