CVE-2016-0363 in SDK Java Technology Edition
Summary
by MITRE
The com.ibm.CORBA.iiop.ClientDelegate class in IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition 6 before SR16 FP25 (6.0.16.25), 6 R1 before SR8 FP25 (6.1.8.25), 7 before SR9 FP40 (7.0.9.40), 7 R1 before SR3 FP40 (7.1.3.40), and 8 before SR3 (8.0.3.0) uses the invoke method of the java.lang.reflect.Method class in an AccessController doPrivileged block, which allows remote attackers to call setSecurityManager and bypass a sandbox protection mechanism via vectors related to a Proxy object instance implementing the java.lang.reflect.InvocationHandler interface. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2013-3009.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-0363 represents a critical sandbox bypass flaw within IBM's Java SDK implementation that specifically affects multiple versions of the Java 6, 7, and 8 runtime environments. This issue resides in the com.ibm.CORBA.iiop.ClientDelegate class and demonstrates how incomplete security fixes can create persistent vulnerabilities that remain exploitable despite previous remediation efforts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to circumvent Java's security model through a sophisticated attack vector involving reflection and privilege escalation mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper use of the java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke method within an AccessController doPrivileged block, which creates a dangerous privilege escalation pathway. When a Proxy object instance implementing the java.lang.reflect.InvocationHandler interface is involved, attackers can leverage this mechanism to call setSecurityManager and effectively disable the security sandbox. This behavior directly violates the fundamental security principles that Java's security manager is designed to enforce, particularly in environments where code isolation and privilege boundaries are critical. The vulnerability operates at the core of Java's security architecture, exploiting the trust relationship between the reflection API and the security manager implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to represent a complete breakdown of sandbox protection mechanisms that organizations rely upon for secure code execution. Attackers can exploit this flaw to bypass security restrictions that would normally prevent malicious code from accessing sensitive system resources, modifying security policies, or performing unauthorized operations. This vulnerability particularly affects applications running in environments where Java applets, web applications, or distributed systems utilize CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) communications, making it a significant concern for enterprise environments that depend on these technologies. The persistence of this vulnerability across multiple Java versions demonstrates how security flaws can remain undetected even after initial patches, creating ongoing risks for organizations that fail to maintain current security updates.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of IBM's security fixes for the affected Java versions, specifically targeting the SR16 FP25, SR8 FP25, SR9 FP40, SR3 FP40, and SR3 releases mentioned in the vulnerability description. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive security assessments of all systems running affected Java versions, particularly those that handle untrusted code or operate in multi-tenant environments. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) categories within the CWE database, representing a complex security flaw that combines privilege escalation with access control bypass mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers can use it to bypass security controls and maintain persistent access to systems. The incomplete fix nature of this vulnerability also highlights the importance of thorough regression testing and comprehensive security validation when implementing security patches to prevent similar issues from persisting in updated systems.