CVE-2016-0695 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 6u113, 7u99, and 8u77; Java SE Embedded 8u77; and JRockit R28.3.9 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality via vectors related to Security.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
This vulnerability resides within Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded platforms, specifically affecting versions 6u113, 7u99, and 8u77 along with JRockit R28.3.9. The issue falls under the broader category of security flaws that could potentially compromise data confidentiality when exploited by remote attackers. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, which is common for certain high-severity vulnerabilities where detailed disclosure could aid malicious actors in developing exploits. This type of vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the security architecture of Java implementations, particularly concerning how they handle cryptographic operations or security-related processes. The classification aligns with CWE-254 which addresses weaknesses in security design, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation or information gathering through application vulnerabilities.
The technical flaw manifests within the security subsystem of Oracle's Java implementation, likely involving cryptographic protocols, certificate handling, or secure communication mechanisms. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to potentially decrypt sensitive data, bypass authentication mechanisms, or otherwise compromise the confidentiality of information processed by Java applications. The remote attack vector indicates that exploitation does not require local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be targeted from anywhere on the network. Such vulnerabilities typically exploit weaknesses in how Java applications manage security contexts, particularly in environments where Java is used for enterprise applications, web services, or any system handling sensitive data. The impact extends beyond simple confidentiality breaches as it could potentially enable further attacks through information disclosure that might reveal system configurations or security parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations running affected Java versions, as it creates potential entry points for attackers to access confidential information within Java-based applications. Systems that rely heavily on Java for business-critical applications, web applications, or enterprise services would be particularly vulnerable. The remote nature of the attack means that organizations must consider their entire network perimeter as potentially exposed, not just systems directly running vulnerable Java applications. This vulnerability could affect web servers, application servers, desktop applications, and any environment where Java applets or applications are executed, potentially leading to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or system compromise. Organizations may need to urgently assess their Java deployment environments and consider immediate patching strategies to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Java versions to the latest secure releases provided by Oracle. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to Java applications and consider disabling unnecessary Java applet execution in web browsers. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual network traffic patterns or authentication failures. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that Java applications run with minimal required permissions. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Java versions and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing Java security vulnerabilities. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future deployments.