# CVE-2003-1516: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Java Plug-in allows signed and unsigned applets to share variables, enabling remote attackers to read or modify signed applet data.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Oct 2007
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jff6-hgp5-xgj5

## What is CVE-2003-1516?

CVE-2003-1516 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 25 Oct 2007. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The org.apache.xalan.processor.XSLProcessorVersion class in Java Plug-in 1.4.2_01 allows signed and unsigned applets to share variables, which violates the Java security model and could allow remote attackers to read or write data belonging to a signed applet.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2003-1516?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sun Java Plug-In.

## How do I fix CVE-2003-1516?

No fix has been published for CVE-2003-1516 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2003-1516 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2003-1516 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Sun Java Plugin 1.4.2 _01 - Cross-Site Applet Sandbox Security Model Violation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2001-1008](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-1008/): Security feature bypass in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2003-1521](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1521/): Security feature bypass in n/a (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2005-4845](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4845/): Denial of service in n/a (medium 5.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2003-1516 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2003-1516 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 25 Oct 2007. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2003-1516 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1516/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1516/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2003-1516
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-1516
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2003-1516

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1516/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.