CVE-2016-0483 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 6u105, 7u91, and 8u66; Java SE Embedded 8u65; and JRockit R28.3.8 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to AWT. NOTE: the previous information is from the January 2016 CPU. Oracle has not commented on third-party claims that this is a heap-based buffer overflow in the readImage function, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted image data.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0483 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple versions of Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded platforms. This issue resides within the Abstract Window Toolkit component of the Java runtime environment, specifically impacting versions 6u105, 7u91, 8u66, and Embedded 8u65. The vulnerability has been classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a heap-based buffer overflow, which is categorized under CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow. This classification indicates that the flaw occurs when a program attempts to write data beyond the boundaries of a heap-allocated buffer, creating potential opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the readImage function, which processes image data for display within Java applications. When the AWT component encounters crafted image files containing maliciously constructed data, the buffer overflow condition is triggered during the image parsing process. This flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable Java versions, as the overflow can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local privileges and can be exploited through network-based delivery of malicious image files, making it highly accessible to threat actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0483 extends across multiple attack surfaces within enterprise environments where Java applications are deployed. The vulnerability affects systems running various Java runtime environments including desktop applications, web applications, and embedded systems, creating widespread exposure potential. Organizations utilizing Java-based applications for image processing, web content delivery, or enterprise software solutions face significant risk of compromise. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability triad are all compromised through this vulnerability, as attackers can potentially read sensitive data, modify system behavior, or cause system crashes and denial of service conditions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an exploitation of a public-facing Java application component.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0483 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle, as the vendor released updated versions addressing the heap-based buffer overflow in the AWT image processing components. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Java applications to untrusted networks, particularly when these applications process image data from external sources. Input validation measures should be strengthened at application boundaries to reject malformed image data before it reaches the vulnerable AWT processing functions. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual network traffic patterns or system behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, application whitelisting and sandboxing approaches can provide defense-in-depth protection, limiting the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current Java runtime environments and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to address similar issues in the future.