TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative
 

Oracle Java Web Start java-vm-args Command Argument Injection Remote Code Execution

ZDI-12-039: February 22nd, 2012

CVSS Score

Affected Vendors

Affected Products

TippingPoint™ IPS Customer Protection

TippingPoint IPS customers are protected against this vulnerability by Digital Vaccine protection filter ID 12107. For further product information on the TippingPoint IPS:

Vulnerability Details


This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Oracle Java. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the way Java Webstart handles the 'java-vm-args' parameter in the j2se tag within a jnlp file. Due to insufficient sanitation it is possible to add additional double quotes to the commandline argument string used to start a new java process. This can lead to remote code execution under the rights of the current user.

Vendor Response

Oracle has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:

Disclosure Timeline

    2011-11-21 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2012-02-22 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Anonymous