Home Page | Skip to Navigation | Skip to Content | Skip to Search | Skip to Footer

Update Protection against Sun Java Web Start JNLP java-vm-args Heap Buffer Overflow

Subscribe

Check Point Reference: CPAI-2008-320
Date Published:
Severity:
Last Updated:
Source: Secunia Advisory: SA31010
Industry Reference(s): CVE-2008-3111
Protection Provided by: Security Gateway
  • R75
Who is Vulnerable?
Sun Microsystems Java Web Start 1.4.2_17 and earlier
Sun Microsystems Java Web Start 5.0 Update 15 and earlier
Sun Microsystems Java Web Start 6 Update 3 and earlier
Vulnerability Description
The Sun Java Web Start is a component of the Java 2 Runtime Environment (JRE). It allows for the network deployment of Java applications. This component enables stand-alone Java applications to be downloaded from a remote network location and invoked on a target machine.
Vulnerability Details
There exists a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in Sun Java Web Start. The vulnerability is due to improper bound checking while handling XML based JNLP files. A remote unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability by enticing the target user to open a crafted JNLP file, potentially causing arbitrary code to be injected and executed in the security context of the current user.
In an attack case where code injection is not successful, the Java Web Start application will terminate unexpectedly.
In a more sophisticated attack scenario where code injection is successful, the behaviour of the target host is entirely dependent on the intended function of the injected code. In such a case, the injected code will be executed within the context of the currently logged in user.

Protection Overview
This protection will detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability.

In order for the protection to be activated, update your Security Gateway product to the latest IPS update. For information on how to update IPS, go to SBP-2006-05, Protection tab and select the version of your choice.

To configure the defense, select your product from the list below and follow the related protection steps.

Security Gateway R75

How Can I Protect My Network?
1. In the IPS tab, click Protections > By Protocol > IPS Software Blade > Application Intelligence > Content Protection.
2. In the right pane, double-click the Sun Java Web Start JNLP java-vm-args Heap Buffer Overflow protection.
3. In the Protection Details window, click on Edit. Choose the protection's Action (Override IPS Policy with: Prevent/Detect), and apply Additional Settings.
4. Install policy on all modules.

How Do I Know if My Network is Under Attack?
SmartView Tracker will log the following entries:

Attack Name: Content Protection Violation
Attack Information: Sun Java Web Start JNLP java-vm-args heap buffer overflow