CVE-2016-3443 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 6u113, 7u99, and 8u77 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to 2D. NOTE: the previous information is from the April 2016 CPU. Oracle has not commented on third-party claims that this issue allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via crafted font data, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3443 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE versions 6u113, 7u99, and 8u77 that affects the 2D graphics rendering component of the Java platform. This issue falls under the broader category of software vulnerabilities that can be exploited remotely, potentially compromising the fundamental security properties of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability specifically relates to the processing of font data within the Java 2D graphics subsystem, which is a core component responsible for rendering graphical elements in Java applications. The lack of detailed information from Oracle regarding the exact nature of the vulnerability has led to third-party analysis suggesting that attackers can exploit crafted font data to trigger out-of-bounds read conditions, which represents a significant security risk.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the font processing mechanisms of Java's 2D graphics library. When Java applications process font files, particularly those with maliciously crafted data, the system fails to properly validate the boundaries of memory access operations. This allows attackers to manipulate font data in such a way that when the Java runtime processes these files, it attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. Such out-of-bounds read conditions can lead to information disclosure, where sensitive memory contents are exposed to attackers, potentially including cryptographic keys, user data, or system information that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in memory safety that aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3443 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the Java runtime environment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive information stored in memory, which might include session tokens, encryption keys, or other confidential data that could be used to escalate privileges or conduct further attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to systems or local network presence to carry out attacks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Java applications are widely deployed. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Java versions, indicating that organizations running any of these specific Java releases are potentially exposed to this risk, regardless of their specific application usage patterns.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to patched versions of Oracle Java SE, specifically versions that address the identified 2D graphics processing flaws. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive vulnerability assessment across all systems running affected Java versions, with particular attention to applications that process untrusted font data or user-provided graphics content. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and system log monitoring. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for execution through Java runtime environments and T1068 for privilege escalation through memory corruption. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and sandboxing measures to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more significant security breaches.