CVE-2018-3183

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2018-3183?

CVE-2018-3183 has a CVSS score of 9.0 (CRITICAL). This vulnerability in Oracle Java's Scripting component allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code and potentially take over affected systems. It affects Java SE, Java SE Embedded, and JRockit deployments running untrusted code through sandboxed Java Web Start applications or applets. The attack requires network access but is difficult to exploit due to high complexity.

9.0 CRITICAL

Remote Code Execution

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in Oracle Java's Scripting component allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code and potentially take over affected systems. It affects Java SE, Java SE Embedded, and JRockit deployments running untrusted code through sandboxed Java Web Start applications or applets. The attack requires network access but is difficult to exploit due to high complexity.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Java SE
Java SE Embedded
JRockit

Versions: Java SE: 8u182 and 11; Java SE Embedded: 8u181; JRockit: R28.3.19

Operating Systems: All platforms running affected Java versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Primarily affects deployments running sandboxed Java Web Start applications or sandboxed Java applets that load untrusted code from the internet.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete system compromise allowing attacker to execute arbitrary code, steal data, and maintain persistent access to affected systems.

🟠

Likely Case

Limited exploitation due to high complexity, but successful attacks could lead to application compromise and data exfiltration.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minimal impact if systems are properly patched and untrusted Java applications are restricted.

🌐 Internet-Facing: MEDIUM - While CVSS score is high, exploitation complexity reduces immediate risk for internet-facing systems.

🏢 Internal Only: LOW - Internal systems typically don't run untrusted Java Web Start applications or applets from external sources.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: HIGH

Attack requires network access via multiple protocols and is described as 'difficult to exploit' by Oracle.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Java SE: 8u191 and later, 11.0.1 and later; Java SE Embedded: 8u191 and later; JRockit: R28.3.20 and later

Vendor Advisory: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download latest Java updates from Oracle website. 2. Uninstall old Java versions. 3. Install updated versions. 4. Restart affected systems and applications.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable Java in browsers

all

Prevent Java applets from running in web browsers

Browser-specific: Disable Java plugin/add-on

Restrict Java Web Start

all

Block or restrict execution of Java Web Start applications

System policy: Configure Java security settings to restrict untrusted applications

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Disable Java entirely on affected systems if not required
Implement network segmentation to isolate Java applications from critical systems

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Java version with 'java -version' and compare against affected versions

Check Version:

java -version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify installed Java version is 8u191+ or 11.0.1+ for Java SE, 8u191+ for Java SE Embedded, or R28.3.20+ for JRockit

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual Java process activity
Scripting engine errors or crashes
Network connections from Java processes to suspicious destinations

Network Indicators:

Unexpected outbound connections from Java applications
Multiple protocol attempts to Java services

SIEM Query:

source="java" AND (event_type="process_creation" OR event_type="network_connection") AND dest_ip NOT IN [allowed_ips]

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2018-3183

CVSS v3 Score: 9.0 (CRITICAL)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published: October 17, 2018

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html Patch,Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105622 Broken Link
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041889 Broken Link
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2942 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2943 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3002 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3003 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3521 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3533 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3534 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3852 Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201908-10 Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20181018-0001/ Third Party Advisory
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbst03952en_us Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3804-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4326 Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html Patch,Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105622 Broken Link
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041889 Broken Link
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2942 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2943 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3002 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3003 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3521 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3533 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3534 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3852 Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201908-10 Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20181018-0001/ Third Party Advisory
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbst03952en_us Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3804-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4326 Third Party Advisory

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Debian Linux by Debian

Enterprise Linux Desktop by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Desktop by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Eus by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Server by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Server by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Server Aus by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Server Eus by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Server Tus by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Workstation by Redhat

Enterprise Linux Workstation by Redhat

Jdk by Oracle

Jdk by Oracle

Jre by Oracle

Jre by Oracle

Jrockit by Oracle

Satellite by Redhat

Ubuntu Linux by Canonical

Ubuntu Linux by Canonical

Ubuntu Linux by Canonical

Xp7 Command View by Hp

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case

Likely Case

If Mitigated

🎯 Exploit Status

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Instructions:

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable Java in browsers

Restrict Java Web Start

🧯 If You Can't Patch

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Version:

Verify Fix Applied:

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Network Indicators:

SIEM Query:

📊 Metadata

🔗 References

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