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National Cyber Awareness System

US-CERT Alert TA13-010A
Oracle Java 7 Security Manager Bypass Vulnerability

Original release date: January 10, 2013
Last revised: --

Systems Affected

     Any system using Oracle Java 7 (1.7, 1.7.0) including

     * Java Platform Standard Edition 7 (Java SE 7)
     * Java SE Development Kit (JDK 7)
     * Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE 7)

     All versions of Java 7 through update 10 are affected.  Web
     browsers using the Java 7 plug-in are at high risk.


Overview

   A vulnerability in the way Java 7 restricts the permissions of Java
   applets could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on a
   vulnerable system.


Description

   A vulnerability in the Java Security Manager allows a Java applet
   to grant itself permission to execute arbitrary code. An attacker
   could use social engineering techniques to entice a user to visit a
   link to a website hosting a malicious Java applet. An attacker
   could also compromise a legitimate web site and upload a malicious
   Java applet (a "drive-by download" attack).

   Any web browser using the Java 7 plug-in is affected. The Java
   Deployment Toolkit plug-in and Java Web Start can also be used as
   attack vectors.

   Reports indicate this vulnerability is being actively exploited,
   and exploit code is publicly available.

   Further technical details are available in Vulnerability Note
   VU#625617.


Impact

   By convincing a user to load a malicious Java applet or Java
   Network Launching Protocol (JNLP) file, an attacker could execute
   arbitrary code on a vulnerable system with the privileges of the
   Java plug-in process.


Solution

   Disable Java in web browsers

   This and previous Java vulnerabilities have been widely targeted by
   attackers, and new Java vulnerabilities are likely to be
   discovered. To defend against this and future Java vulnerabilities,
   disable Java in web browsers.

   Starting with Java 7 Update 10, it is possible to disable Java
   content in web browsers through the Java control panel applet. From
   Setting the Security Level of the Java Client:

   For installations where the highest level of security is required,
   it is possible to entirely prevent any Java apps (signed or
   unsigned) from running in a browser by de-selecting Enable Java
   content in the browser in the Java Control Panel under the Security
   tab.

   If you are unable to update to Java 7 Update 10 please see the
   solution section of Vulnerability Note VU#636312 for instructions
   on how to disable Java on a per browser basis.


References

 * Vulnerability Note VU#625617
   <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/625617>

 * Setting the Security Level of the Java Client
   <http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/technotes/guides/jweb/client-security.html>

 * The Security Manager
   <http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/environment/security.html>

 * How to disable the Java web plug-in in Safari
   <https://support.apple.com/kb/HT5241>

 * How to turn off Java applets
   <https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/How%20to%20turn%20off%20Java%20applets>

 * NoScript
   <http://noscript.net/>

 * Securing Your Web Browser
   <https://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/securing_browser/#Safari>

 * Vulnerability Note VU#636312
   <http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/636312#solution>


Revision History

  January 10, 2013: Initial release

 ____________________________________________________________________

   Feedback can be directed to US-CERT Technical Staff. Please send
   email to <cert@cert.org> with "TA13-010A Feedback VU#625617" in
   the subject.
 ____________________________________________________________________

   Produced by US-CERT, a government organization.
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