CVE-2010-3860 in IcedTea
Summary
by MITRE
IcedTea 1.7.x before 1.7.6, 1.8.x before 1.8.3, and 1.9.x before 1.9.2, as based on OpenJDK 6, declares multiple sensitive variables as public, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information including (1) user.name, (2) user.home, and (3) java.home system properties, and other sensitive information such as installation directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3860 represents a significant security flaw in IcedTea implementations that are based on OpenJDK 6. This issue affects versions prior to specific patches in the 1.7.x, 1.8.x, and 1.9.x release series, creating a persistent risk for systems that rely on these Java runtime environments. The core problem lies in the improper exposure of sensitive system properties through public variable declarations, which violates fundamental security principles of information hiding and access control.
The technical flaw manifests through the declaration of multiple sensitive system variables as public rather than protected or private within the IcedTea runtime environment. Specifically attackers can access the user.name, user.home, and java.home system properties which contain critical information about the user account, home directory structure, and Java installation paths. This exposure occurs because the implementation fails to properly encapsulate these variables, allowing any remote attacker with network access to retrieve this information through standard Java system property retrieval mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to gather reconnaissance information that could be used in subsequent attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. When attackers can obtain user.home and java.home properties, they gain insight into the directory structure and potential installation locations of critical system components. This information can be leveraged to plan targeted attacks against specific user accounts, identify system configurations, and potentially discover other vulnerabilities in the Java runtime environment or underlying operating system. The exposure of installation directories may reveal version-specific information that could be exploited to target known vulnerabilities in particular Java implementations.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-497, which addresses the exposure of sensitive system information, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082, which involves system information discovery. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient access control and information exposure, where system properties that should remain private are made publicly accessible. Organizations using affected IcedTea versions face increased risk of reconnaissance activities and potential privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper encapsulation in software design and highlights how seemingly minor implementation decisions can create significant security weaknesses.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to patched versions of IcedTea 1.7.6, 1.8.3, or 1.9.2, depending on the specific version currently in use. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Java applications to untrusted networks. Additionally, regular security assessments should verify that system properties are properly encapsulated and that no sensitive information is inadvertently exposed through public interfaces. Organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns to system properties, which could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper software design principles and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.