Re: Java 7 Security Manager Bypass Vulnerability - Java 1.7.07 just released

["Hanson, Mike" <mhanson () CSS EDU>]

Has anyone seen a compromised computer on their campus related to this yet?
I am trying to determine how quickly we need to move on this. We are a
Banner school and a BlackBoard school and so we are using the 1.6 java
version fork because of compatibility issues with 1.7

Thank you.



Mike Hanson, CISSP
Network Security Manager
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811



On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 3:40 PM, Chuck Braden <j-braden () tamu edu> wrote:

> Oracle just released version 1.7.07 of Java.  In theory, it addresses the
> zero day vulnerability****
>
> ** **
>
> http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp****
>
> *Download Java for your desktop computer now!*
>
> *Version 7 Update 7*
>
> * *
>
>
> http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2012-4681-1835715.html
> ****
> Oracle Security Alert for CVE-2012-4681****
>
> ** **
> Description****
>
> This Security Alert addresses security issues CVE-2012-4681 (US-CERT Alert
> TA12-240A) and two other vulnerabilities affecting Java running in web
> browsers on desktops. These vulnerabilities are not applicable to Java
> running on servers or standalone Java desktop applications. They also do
> not affect Oracle server-based software.****
>
> These vulnerabilities may be remotely exploitable without authentication,
> i.e., they may be exploited over a network without the need for a username
> and password. To be successfully exploited, an unsuspecting user running an
> affected release in a browser will need to visit a malicious web page that
> leverages this vulnerability. Successful exploits can impact the
> availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the user's system.****
>
> In addition, this Security Alert includes a security-in-depth fix in the
> AWT subcomponent of the Java Runtime Environment.****
>
> *Due to the severity of these vulnerabilities, the public disclosure of
> technical details and the reported exploitation of CVE-2012-4681 "in the
> wild," Oracle strongly recommends that customers apply the updates provided
> by this Security Alert as soon as possible*.****
> Supported Products Affected****
>
> Security vulnerabilities addressed by this Security Alert affect the
> products listed in the categories below.  Please click on the link in the
> Patch Availability column or in the Patch Availability 
> Table<http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2012-4681-1835715.html#PatchTable>to access the 
> documentation for those patches.
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Jimmy C Braden****
>
> Information Security Officer****
>
> AgriLife Information Technology****
>
> 979-862-7254****
>
> j-braden () tamu edu****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:
> SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] *On Behalf Of *Chuck Braden
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 28, 2012 3:19 PM
> *To:* SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> *Subject:* Re: [SECURITY] Java 7 Security Manager Bypass Vulnerability -
> drop back to 1.6.34 if possible.****
>
> ** **
>
> From what I am reading, the most recent version of 1.6 is 34 and it was
> released on August 14 – the same date as 1.7.06. So technically, the code
> fixes applied to 1.6.34 would provide some sense of protection from all the
> vulnerabilities identified prior to 8/14 but still not be exploitable to
> the zero day code that 1.7 is vulnerable to.  So far, no resource I have
> identified is promoting such a workaround for that reason, YMMV.   As I
> understand it 1.7 was released to support Arm cores. ****
>
> ** **
>
> DL Link for 1.6.34 -
> http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jre6-downloads-1637595.html
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> See comments on – ****
>
> http://isc.sans.edu/diary/Quick+Bits+about+Today+s+Java+0-Day/13984 ****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> This is what we know so far about the vulnerability: there is an exploit
> in the wild, it works on the latest FireFox, and Chrome, and it targets
> Java 1.7 update 6, there is currently no patch available, the exploit has
> been integrated into the metasploit framework.****
>
> ** **
>
> What this means: the potential hit rate for drive-by attacks is currently
> elevated.  Since this is a java vulnerability, this may also affect more
> than just Windows platforms (multi-platform attacks currently unconfirmed,
> based on the multi-platform compatibility of java itself.) ****
>
> ** **
>
> Update: Metasploit claims to work on Mac OS X via Safari.  So consider it
> just a java issue and ignore the OS and the browser when considering if
> you're exposed.****
>
> ** **
>
> The next patch cycle from Oracle isn't scheduled for another two months
> (October.)****
>
> ** **
>
> What you can do: this places normal end-users in a pretty bad position,
> relying mostly upon disabling, or restricting java and hoping that AV
> catches the payload that gets installed.  None of these are really good
> options.  There is a 3rd-party developed patch that is said to exist, but
> it's not intended for end-users.  My current recommendations are to disable
> java if you can (see Brian Kreb's handy guide here:
> http://krebsonsecurity.com/how-to-unplug-java-from-the-browser/  ,) or
> use something like no-script to help control where you accept and execute
> java from.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Update: Downgrading to 1.6 might be an option for you as well, make sure
> you're using the latest update.  Credit or blame Steven depending on how
> that works out for you. (JK Steven.)****
>
> ** **
>
> Suggested reading on the topic:****
>
> ** **
>
>
> http://blog.fireeye.com/research/2012/08/zero-day-season-is-not-over-yet.html
> ****
>
>
> http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/08/attackers-pounce-on-zero-day-java-exploit/
> ****
>
>
> http://www.deependresearch.org/2012/08/java-7-0-day-vulnerability-information.html
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Jimmy C Braden****
>
> Information Security Officer****
>
> AgriLife Information Technology****
>
> 979-862-7254****
>
> j-braden () tamu edu****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv
> [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] *On Behalf Of *Bateman, Darrell
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 28, 2012 3:13 PM
> *To:* SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> *Subject:* [SECURITY] Java 7 Security Manager Bypass Vulnerability****
>
> ** **
>
> Curious to know how you all plan to react to the Java 7 Security Manager
> Bypass Zero-day Vulnerability.****
>
> ** **
>
> http://web.nvd.nist.gov/view/vuln/detail?vulnId=CVE-2012-4681****
>
> ** **
>
> --------------------------------------****
>
> *Darrell Bateman*
>
> *Assistant Vice President for IT and ISO*
>
> *Office of the Chief Information Officer*
>
> *Information Technology Division*
>
> *Texas Tech University*
>
> ** **