CVE-2011-3552 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment component in Oracle Java SE JDK and JRE 7, 6 Update 27 and earlier, 5.0 Update 31 and earlier, and 1.4.2_33 and earlier allows remote attackers to affect integrity via unknown vectors related to Networking.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3552 resides within the Java Runtime Environment component of Oracle Java SE JDK and JRE versions spanning multiple release lines including Java 7, Java 6 through Update 27, Java 5.0 through Update 31, and Java 1.4.2 through Update 33. This unspecified flaw specifically impacts the networking subsystem of the Java runtime environment and represents a critical security concern that enables remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical details of the flaw were not fully disclosed in the initial advisory, making it particularly dangerous as security professionals cannot immediately determine the precise attack vectors or exploitation methods available to threat actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies within the networking functionality of the Java Runtime Environment, where attackers can potentially manipulate network communications to alter data integrity. This type of vulnerability typically involves weaknesses in how the Java networking stack processes incoming or outgoing data packets, potentially allowing for data corruption or manipulation during transmission. The networking subsystem in Java applications relies on various protocols and socket implementations that could be exploited to modify network traffic or inject malicious data into the communication stream. Such flaws often stem from inadequate input validation, improper buffer handling, or insufficient cryptographic protections within the network layer components of the Java runtime.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3552 extends significantly across enterprise environments that utilize affected Java versions, as the vulnerability enables remote code execution and data integrity compromise without requiring authentication. Organizations running web applications, enterprise services, or any network-dependent Java applications face substantial risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where Java applications handle sensitive data or communicate across untrusted networks. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible Java applications. System administrators and security teams must consider the potential for data manipulation, unauthorized access to network resources, and possible escalation to full system compromise when evaluating the impact of this vulnerability within their infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of affected Java installations to the latest available updates from Oracle, as the company would have released specific fixes for this networking-related integrity issue. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of Java applications to untrusted networks, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity, and consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of Java applications to trusted sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in memory handling and data integrity, and may relate to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Java-based command execution and T1566 for initial access through network services. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary Java applets in web browsers and implementing strict firewall rules to limit network access to Java applications. The remediation process requires careful testing of patched environments to ensure that security updates do not disrupt existing Java-based applications, particularly in mission-critical enterprise environments where application stability is paramount.