CVE-2011-0866 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 6 Update 25 and earlier, 5.0 Update 29 and earlier, and 1.4.2_31 and earlier, when running on Windows, allows remote untrusted Java Web Start applications and untrusted Java applets to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Java Runtime Environment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-0866 represents a critical security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment component of Oracle Java SE versions prior to specific update releases. This weakness specifically impacts systems running on Windows operating environments where Java Web Start applications and Java applets execute with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains partially obscured, though it clearly affects core security properties including confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Such a flaw represents a significant threat vector as it allows remote exploitation through trusted Java applications that should normally operate within sandboxed environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient security controls within the Java Runtime Environment's handling of untrusted code execution. When Java Web Start applications or applets attempt to execute within the JRE, they should be confined to strict security boundaries that prevent unauthorized access to system resources. However, this flaw allows malicious code to potentially bypass these protective mechanisms, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate system data, compromise network communications, or disrupt service availability. The vulnerability's Windows-specific nature suggests potential integration points with Windows security models that may have been inadequately addressed in the affected JRE versions.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0866 extends beyond simple exploitation attempts as it fundamentally undermines the security model that Java applications depend upon for safe execution. Organizations running affected JRE versions face potential data breaches, system corruption, and service disruption when users interact with malicious web content or download compromised applications. The vulnerability affects multiple Java versions simultaneously, indicating a systemic issue within the JRE architecture rather than isolated component failure. This broad impact requires comprehensive security assessments across enterprise environments where Java applications are prevalent, particularly in financial services, healthcare, and government sectors where confidentiality and integrity are paramount.
Security professionals should reference this vulnerability through CWE-119 which encompasses weaknesses in memory handling and buffer overflow conditions that often manifest in runtime environments like Java. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and execution techniques where adversaries leverage application flaws to gain unauthorized system access. Mitigation strategies must include immediate patch deployment to update affected JRE versions to secure releases, implementation of Java security policies that restrict applet execution, and network-level controls that prevent access to untrusted Java content. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling Java plugin execution in web browsers and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized Java applications. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining current Java security patches and demonstrates how runtime environment flaws can compromise entire system security postures through seemingly isolated application vulnerabilities.