CVE-2011-3549 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 allows remote untrusted Java Web Start applications and untrusted Java applets to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Swing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3549 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle's Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of the Java Development Kit and Java Runtime Environment across different major releases. This vulnerability specifically targets the Swing graphical user interface component within Java applications, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited through untrusted Java Web Start applications and applets. The unspecified nature of the exact vulnerability vector makes this issue particularly concerning as it could encompass multiple attack patterns that adversaries might leverage to compromise systems running affected Java versions.
The technical flaw resides within the Swing component implementation that processes untrusted Java applications executed through Web Start or applet mechanisms. This vulnerability allows malicious actors to potentially exploit the Java security model through carefully crafted Swing-based applications that can manipulate system resources and execute unauthorized operations. The vulnerability affects systems where Java is installed with the specified versions, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or executing a compromised Java Web Start application. The impact spans all three core security principles as defined by the CIA triad, meaning that confidentiality of system data, integrity of system operations, and availability of system resources can all be compromised through exploitation of this vulnerability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations deploying Java applications in enterprise environments, particularly those with legacy systems running older Java versions. The attack vectors are particularly dangerous because they can be initiated through web browsing activities or by executing malicious Java Web Start applications, making them difficult to prevent through traditional network security measures. The vulnerability's potential for affecting confidentiality means that sensitive data could be accessed or exfiltrated from compromised systems, while integrity concerns suggest that system modifications or malicious code injection could occur. Availability impacts could manifest through denial of service conditions or system instability that could disrupt critical business operations. Organizations with systems running affected Java versions face substantial risk of compromise, particularly in environments where users have the ability to execute untrusted Java applications or visit websites hosting malicious content.
The vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat modeling approaches, including CWE categories related to security flaws in graphical user interface components and Java runtime environment vulnerabilities. This issue demonstrates the importance of maintaining current Java installations and following security best practices for Java application deployment. Organizations should implement immediate remediation strategies including updating to patched versions of Java, implementing network segmentation to limit Java execution, and deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of untrusted Java applications. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security awareness training to prevent users from executing untrusted Java content and emphasizes the importance of regular vulnerability assessments and patch management processes to maintain system security posture against similar threats.