CVE-2016-5556 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Java SE 6u121, 7u111, and 8u102 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to 2D.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2022
This vulnerability resides within Oracle Java SE versions 6u121, 7u111, and 8u102, specifically affecting the 2D graphics subsystem. The unspecified nature of the flaw indicates a critical weakness in the rendering engine that processes 2D graphics operations, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying system through maliciously crafted graphics content. The vulnerability impacts all three major Java SE versions, suggesting a fundamental architectural issue rather than a simple patchable bug. The affected 2D component handles various graphics operations including image processing, rendering, and graphical transformations that are commonly used in Java applications. This creates a broad attack surface since 2D graphics functionality is prevalent across numerous Java-based applications and web applets that process external content. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to compromise system confidentiality by potentially accessing sensitive data through memory corruption or information disclosure mechanisms. Integrity is affected as attackers can manipulate graphics data or system state through crafted inputs that exploit the underlying 2D rendering pipeline. Availability is compromised when the vulnerability allows for denial of service conditions or system crashes that prevent normal operation of Java applications. The 2D graphics subsystem represents a complex component that processes various image formats, handles memory management for graphical objects, and manages rendering contexts that are susceptible to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or improper input validation. These vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient bounds checking in graphics processing routines that handle user-supplied data or external graphics files. The attack vector specifically relates to 2D graphics processing, meaning that maliciously crafted graphics content could trigger the vulnerability when processed by the Java runtime environment. This aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where graphics processing is often exploited through malicious file formats or web content that leverages Java applet functionality. The vulnerability may be classified under CWE-125 Uncontrolled Buffer Access and CWE-129 Improper Validation of Array Index, both of which are commonly associated with graphics processing components that fail to validate input data before processing. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations using Java-based applications that process external graphics content or rely on Java applets for web-based interfaces. The widespread use of Java SE across enterprise environments means that exploitation could potentially affect numerous systems without proper patching. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially allow privilege escalation or information leakage that could compromise entire systems. Organizations using older Java versions face particular risk since these specific versions have reached end-of-life support status, leaving them vulnerable to unpatched security flaws. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage client-side vulnerabilities to execute malicious code through Java applets or web-based graphics processing. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users interact with untrusted web content or where Java applets are enabled by default. The 2D graphics processing component typically handles various image formats including png, jpeg, and gif files, making it susceptible to attacks through maliciously crafted image files that trigger the underlying vulnerability. The lack of specific details in the CVE description suggests that the vulnerability may involve multiple related flaws in the graphics processing pipeline rather than a single exploitable condition. Security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems immediately, as the vulnerability affects multiple Java versions and the 2D graphics subsystem is widely used across enterprise applications. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems that process external graphics content, particularly in environments where Java applets are still enabled. The vulnerability represents a critical security risk that requires immediate attention from security teams and system administrators to prevent potential exploitation in real-world attack scenarios.