Sun Microsystems Security Bulletin Java Runtime Environment unauthorized command execution

Subject: Sun Security Bulletin #00201
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 13:06:46 -0500 (EST)
From: [email protected]

                   Sun Microsystems, Inc. Security Bulletin

Bulletin Number:        #00201
Date:                   February 21, 2001
Cross-Ref:
Title:                  Java Runtime Environment unauthorized command execution

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1. Background

A vulnerability in certain versions of the Java Runtime
Environment may allow malicious Java code to execute unauthorized
commands. However, permission to execute at least one command must
have been granted in order for this vulnerability to be exploited.
Since no permission is granted by default, the circumstances
necessary to exploit this vulnerability are relatively rare. In the
Java Development Kit 1.1.x (JDK(TM) 1.1.x) (browsers included), an
applet must be signed to have execute permission (signed applets
may execute anything in JDK 1.1.x.)

This issue may or may not affect other vendors’ Java technology
implementations which are derived from Sun’s JDK source base. Sun
has notified and made the remedy available to its Java
licensees.

To the best of Sun’s knowledge, Netscape Navigator(TM) and
Microsoft Internet Explorer are not exposed to this
vulnerability.

Sun recommends that you upgrade to the latest JDK and JRE
releases listed in section 3 of this bulletin.

2. Affected Releases

The following releases are affected:

Windows Production and Solaris(TM) Reference Releases

     SDK and JRE 1.2.2_005 or earlier
     SDK and JRE 1.2.1_003 or earlier
     JDK and JRE 1.1.8_003 or earlier
     JDK and JRE 1.1.7B_005 or earlier
     JDK and JRE 1.1.6_007 or earlier

     Solaris Production Releases

     SDK and JRE 1.2.2_05a or earlier
     SDK and JRE 1.2.1
     JDK and JRE 1.1.8_10 or earlier
     JDK and JRE 1.1.7B
     JDK and JRE 1.1.6

Linux Production Release

SDK and JRE 1.2.2_005 or earlier

Solaris Production releases SDK and JRE 1.2.1, and JDK and JRE
1.1.7B and 1.1.6 should no longer be used. In addition, releases
prior to JDK and JRE 1.1.6 for Windows or Solaris should no longer
be used. Users of these releases should upgrade to a later release
listed in Section 3.

This vulnerability was fixed in Java 2 Platform, Standard
Edition, v 1.3.

3. Binary Update Releases

The following update releases are available in relation to this
issue.

Windows Production and Solaris Reference Releases

SDK and JRE 1.2.2_007 http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.2/ 
SDK and JRE 1.2.1_004 http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.2.1/ 
JDK and JRE 1.1.8_006 http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.1/ 
JDK and JRE 1.1.7B_007 http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.1.7B/ 
JDK and JRE 1.1.6_009 http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.1.6/ 

Solaris Production Releases

SDK and JRE 1.2.2_07 http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/java/download.html
JDK and JRE 1.1.8_12 http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/java/archive.html

Linux Production Release

SDK and JRE 1.2.2_007 http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.2/download-linux.html

Sun acknowledges, with thanks, Pascal Brisset for bringing this
issue to our attention.

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