# CVE-2016-5549: Information disclosure in Java SE

> Unauthenticated attackers can access critical data in Java SE via network protocols, requiring user interaction in client-side sandboxed environments.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 9 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4p8w-9rpg-4mhm, MINI-3xgf-j2vp-m99r, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-5549

## What is CVE-2016-5549?

CVE-2016-5549 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Oracle Jdk, published on 27 Jan 2017. 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

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).

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-5549?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Oracle Jdk, Oracle Jre.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-5549?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-5549 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-5549 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Oracle Jdk

- [CVE-2012-4681](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4681/): Oracle Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1723](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1723/): Oracle Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-4805](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4805/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2015-4835](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4835/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2015-4843](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4843/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-5549 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-5549 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Oracle Jdk, published on 27 Jan 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-5549 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Oracle Jdk. 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-2016-5549/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5549/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5549
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5549
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-5549

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5549/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.