CVE-2012-1711 in Java SE JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 update 4 and earlier, 6 update 32 and earlier, 5 update 35 and earlier, and 1.4.2_37 and earlier allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, related to CORBA.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1711 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle's Java Runtime Environment that affects multiple versions of Java SE including Java 7 through update 4, Java 6 through update 32, Java 5 through update 35, and Java 1.4.2 through update 37. This weakness resides within the CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) component of the JRE, which serves as a middleware framework enabling distributed object communication across different platforms and programming languages. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it is categorized as a remote attack vector that can compromise the fundamental security properties of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CORBA subsystem within Java SE provides distributed computing capabilities that allow applications to communicate across network boundaries, making it a critical component for enterprise applications and web-based services.
The technical impact of this vulnerability stems from the CORBA implementation's potential to allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or manipulate system resources without requiring local access privileges. CORBA systems typically handle complex distributed object interactions including method calls, data marshaling, and network communication protocols that are inherently susceptible to various attack vectors including buffer overflows, injection attacks, and improper input validation. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to systems, manipulate data integrity, disrupt service availability, or extract confidential information from applications relying on Java's CORBA functionality. The vulnerability's classification as affecting all three core security principles demonstrates its severity and the broad scope of potential compromise across different operational domains.
From an operational perspective, systems running affected Java versions with CORBA-enabled applications face substantial risk exposure given that CORBA is commonly used in enterprise environments for building distributed applications, particularly in financial services, telecommunications, and government sectors where Java's platform independence and distributed computing capabilities are leveraged. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur from any network location without requiring physical access to the target system, significantly expanding the attack surface and making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments. Organizations utilizing legacy Java applications or those with older Java installations may unknowingly expose themselves to this vulnerability, especially in environments where patch management processes are delayed or incomplete.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1711 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Java installations to the latest available updates from Oracle, which typically include fixes for the underlying CORBA implementation issues. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Java installations across enterprise networks are updated promptly. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit exposure by restricting access to CORBA-enabled services and implementing strict access controls for Java applications that utilize distributed object communication. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling unnecessary CORBA functionality in Java applications and implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and CWE categories related to improper input validation and buffer overflows, emphasizing the need for robust application security controls and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent exploitation.