CVE-2011-3545 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment component in Oracle Java SE JDK and JRE 6 Update 27 and earlier, 5.0 Update 31 and earlier, and 1.4.2_33 and earlier, and JRockit R28.1.4 and earlier, allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Sound.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3545 represents a critical security flaw within the Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Oracle Java SE JDK and JRE across different release lines. This issue specifically targets the sound component functionality within the Java runtime, creating potential attack vectors that could compromise system security. The vulnerability exists in versions 6 Update 27 and earlier, 5.0 Update 31 and earlier, and 1.4.2_33 and earlier, as well as JRockit R28.1.4 and earlier, indicating a widespread impact across the Java ecosystem. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could potentially be exploited through multiple pathways without clear indication of specific exploitation techniques.
The technical flaw resides within the sound subsystem of the Java Runtime Environment, where insufficient input validation or improper handling of audio data could allow malicious actors to manipulate system resources. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of unspecified security issues that can affect multiple system aspects including confidentiality through data exfiltration, integrity through data corruption, and availability through system disruption. The sound component in Java applications often interfaces with underlying operating system audio APIs and hardware drivers, creating potential attack surfaces where malicious code could exploit buffer overflows, memory corruption issues, or privilege escalation opportunities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations running affected Java versions as it could enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on target systems without requiring local access. The impact extends beyond simple data compromise to potentially allowing full system control, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Java applications are commonly deployed. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, conduct data breaches, or disrupt critical business operations through availability attacks that could bring down audio-dependent applications or even entire systems. The vulnerability's potential to affect multiple Java versions simultaneously increases the attack surface significantly, as organizations may have various applications running on different Java runtime versions.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of the affected Java components, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic related to audio processing. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and remote code execution, while potentially mapping to CWE categories involving input validation failures and memory safety issues. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Java versions and implement proper access controls to limit potential exploitation. Regular patch management processes should be enhanced to ensure rapid deployment of security updates, particularly for critical components like the Java runtime environment that serve as foundational elements for numerous enterprise applications.