SynopsisTitle: Java Virtual Machine Symlink Vulnerability Platforms: Linux Distributions with j2re1.4.1_02 Discovered: Today Local: Yes. Remote: No.
1. Overview Java Virtual Machine stores temporary log files within the /tmp directory with a prefix of jpsock.**_* etc in an insecure manner. 2. Background The Java virtual machine is the cornerstone of the Java and Java 2 platforms. It is the component of the technology responsible for its hardware- and operating system- independence, the small size of its compiled code, and its ability to protect users from malicious programs. 3. Issue Java Virtual Machin creates the file "/tmp/jpsock.**_*" on startup. The existance and owner of the file is not checked prior to writing startup information to the file. 4. Impact Local users may create a symlink from an arbitrary file to /tmp/jpsock.**_*. When JVM is executed, the file pointed to by the symlink will be overwritten. This can and will be used to gain elevated privileges via symlink attack 5. Recommendation You shouldn't be using it anyways. See my prior post 6. Vendor Notification None - this is full disclosure Summer of the Sickness is drawing near....... Copyright � 2003, Paper Street Soap Company, Inc. _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
