A Security Vulnerability With Verifying HMAC-based XML Digital Signatures in the XML Digital Signature Implementation Included With the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) may Allow Authentication to be Bypassed

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A security vulnerability with verifying HMAC-based XML digital signatures in the XML Digital Signature implementation included with the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) may allow authentication to be bypassed:

1. Impact

A vulnerability with verifying HMAC-based XML digital signatures in the XML Digital Signature implementation included with the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) may allow authentication to be bypassed. This could allow a user to forge an XML digital signature that would be accepted as valid. Applications that validate HMAC-based XML digital signatures may be vulnerable to this type of attack.

Note: This vulnerability cannot be exploited by an untrusted applet or Java Web Start application.

This issue is also described in the following document:

CERT VU#466161 at: http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/466161
CVE-2009-0217 at: http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-0217

Sun acknowledges, with thanks, Thomas Roessler from the W3C for bringing this issue to our attention.

2. Contributing Factors

This issue can occur in the following Java SE and Java SE for Business releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 14 and earlier

Note: JDK and JRE 5.0, and SDK and JRE 1.4.2 and 1.3.1 are not affected by this issue.

To determine the version of Java installed on a system, the following command can be used:

    % *java -version*
    java version "1.5.0_17"

3. Symptoms

There are no reliable symptoms that would indicate the described issues have been exploited.

4. Workaround

There is no workaround for this issue.  Please see the Resolution section below.

5. Resolution

This issue is addressed in the following Java SE and Java SE for Business releases for Windows, Solaris, and Linux:

• JDK and JRE 6 Update 15 or later

Java SE releases are available at:

JDK and JRE 6 Update 15:

• http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

JRE 6 Update 15:

• http://java.com/
• Through the Java Update tool for Microsoft Windows users

JDK 6 Update 15 for Solaris is available in the following patches:

• Java SE 6: update 15 (as delivered in patch 125136-16)
• Java SE 6: update 15 (as delivered in patch 125137-16 (64bit))
• Java SE 6_x86: update 15 (as delivered in patch 125138-16)
• Java SE 6_x86: update 15 (as delivered in patch 125139-16 (64bit))
  

Java SE for Business releases are available at:

• http://www.sun.com/software/javaseforbusiness/getit_download.jsp

Note:  When installing a new version of the product from a source other than a Solaris patch, it is recommended that the old affected versions be removed from your system. To remove old affected versions on the Windows platform, please see:

• http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000010800.xml

For more information on Security Sun Alerts, see Technical Instruction ID 213557.

This Sun Alert notification is being provided to you on an "AS IS" basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE OUT OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. This Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of your agreement to purchase services from Sun, or, if you do not have such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these agreements.

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