CVE-2016-5549: Medium severity Oracle JDK vulnerability
A covert timing channel flaw was found in the ECDSA implementation in the Libraries component of OpenJDK. A remote attacker able to make a Java application generate ECDSA signatures on demand could possibly use this flaw to extract certain information about the key use via a timing side channel.
Other sources
Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded component of Oracle Java SE (subcomponent: Libraries). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 7u121 and 8u112; Java SE Embedded: 8u111. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java SE, Java SE Embedded. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Java SE, Java SE Embedded accessible data. Note: This vulnerability applies to Java deployments, typically in clients running sandboxed Java Web Start applications or sandboxed Java applets, that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security. This vulnerability does not apply to Java deployments, typically in servers, that load and run only trusted code (e.g., code installed by an administrator). CVSS v3.0 Base Score 6.5 (Confidentiality impacts).
— Launchpad
Affected Software
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Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2016-5549?
CVE-2016-5549 is categorized as a medium severity vulnerability due to its potential to exploit timing channels.
How do I fix CVE-2016-5549?
To remediate CVE-2016-5549, you should upgrade to OpenJDK 8 or later versions, specifically version 8u442-ga-2 or newer.
What software is affected by CVE-2016-5549?
CVE-2016-5549 affects specific versions of Oracle JDK and JRE, specifically 1.7-update_121, 1.8-update_111, and 1.8-update_112.
Can CVE-2016-5549 be exploited remotely?
Yes, CVE-2016-5549 can potentially be exploited by a remote attacker who is able to trigger ECDSA signature generation.
What kind of attack vector does CVE-2016-5549 use?
CVE-2016-5549 leverages a covert timing channel to potentially leak information regarding key usage.