Sun and Blackdown Java: Applet privilege escalation

Background

Sun and Blackdown both provide implementations of Java Development Kits (JDK) and Java Runtime Environments (JRE). All these implementations provide a Java plug-in that can be used to execute Java applets in a restricted environment for web browsers.

Description

All Java plug-ins are subject to a vulnerability allowing unrestricted Java package access.

Impact

A remote attacker could embed a malicious Java applet in a web page and entice a victim to view it. This applet can then bypass security restrictions and execute any command or access any file with the rights of the user running the web browser.

Workaround

As a workaround you could disable Java applets on your web browser.

Resolution

All Sun JDK users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-java/sun-jdk-1.4.2.06"

All Sun JRE users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-java/sun-jre-bin-1.4.2.06"

All Blackdown JDK users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-java/blackdown-jdk-1.4.2.01"

All Blackdown JRE users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-java/blackdown-jre-1.4.2.01"

Note: You should unmerge all vulnerable versions to be fully protected.